Sunday 9 April 2017

Victoria-Saanich Inlet Anglers’ Association – 1931 – 1932 Yearbook




Here are some more images from the VSIAA yearbook, 1931/32, the first year they put it out. Jack James, Mr. Radiant Lures, has it on his work desk, taped to present it to the viewer. In a previous article, I featured a story of the exec, landing his own plane and going out fishing, and flying back to Chicago with the evidence of Saanich Inlet’s largesse. Lansdowne Airfield where he landed was on the present site of Lansdown Middle School, in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. The airfield was originally bordered by Lansdowne Road, Richmond, Newton, and Shelbourne. 

The first yearbook issue had more than 36 pages, so it was a chunky little record. Here are some more images from the eight-page spread I photographed. The first image is an advertisement for Plimley & Richie, a tackle shop on View Street downtown.




FYI: Cutty Hunk Line is both a brand name and a type of braided line. Click the link below.

The next image is the official Weigh Lady, with a fish that is almost as big as she is. You will note the prayer at the end, asking God for such a large fish that lying about it isn’t necessary.



Then there is an ad for Harrap’s guiding service. Catch the quaint phone ‘number’: Keating 53M. And, of course, note that going out in a suit and tie got awarded, with, I think, seven salmon;



The next image is for Gilbert’s guiding, with the sporting offer: No Fish – No Pay. And for the princely sum of $1.50 per hour. And men have a better time in, as they used to say for knickerbockers, Plus Fours.



Even if you didn’t wear a suit, and showed up in a cap, sans Plus-Fours, you might still catch, as Roy Thompson did, a 53 ¼ pound chinook. He won the top gold button award for the year, beating out Ralph le Fever (can this be a real name?) from Hollywood, with a mere 40-pounder:




Next image: Creed’s Landing was a marina just down from Gilbert’s, deeper into Brentwood Bay. It was the first place I got salmon smoked, in 1976. It was so good that when we got home, we would, without removing our coats, open the glazed-one-side brown paper, open a box of Stoned Wheat Thins, and stuff ourselves until we couldn’t eat another bite – and that included dinner. I also had smoking done at Gilbert’s, too, where they put the smoker in an outside closet, which smoked away all day and whoever opened the door disappeared into the smoke. I last had it done when lacustrine Harold, with his big floppy-legged German Shepherd, was the resident owner some years later.



And proving that Ralph “Boots” Le Fever was existent in 1932, the man himself and his forty-pounder:




And waxing poetic about Hyas Tyee, Richard L. Pocock, rhymes the Big’ Un of Brentwood Bay, arrrgh Billy (It’s a bit blurry, but I hope you can zoom in and read it). 






Note: 


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