Britannia Heritage Shipyard History
A Checkered Past
The Fleetwood: Sleek and Fast as a "Rum Runner"
In the early days of the Britannia Shipyard, there were about 1000 Chinese immigrants in the local area, working in the canneries. Opium smoking, a pastime brought with them from China, was common among the imported labourers and at the time seemed to be the activity of choice on their day off from the cannery. Given the harshness of life on the river for the Chinese at the time, and the degree of prejudice which they were subjected to, this was one of the few "pleasures" available to them.
There were actually several opium dens in the Steveston area. Strange as it may seem today, the activity was perfectly legal in the late 19th century and early into the 20th. During that time, Chinese merchants in Victoria and Vancouver legally processed and sold the drug.
That all changed in 1908 when the rising fear of drug use lead to a ban on the manufacture and sale of the drug in Canada. Still, that did not stop the flow of drugs into the country as smuggling took over from legal manufacturing. The practice continued illegally for some years after. In fact, there was an opium den underneath the "Rancharia", (a large bunkhouse building that still existed at the site as late as 1991); a convenient location out of sight of the police, once the practice became illegal. As the story goes, "Hong Wo's", the local Chinese grocery store, also maintained an opium den. Today there is a commemorative plaque where Hong's used to be.
In the 1920’s the US Congress instituted prohibition (against alcohol) and in 1921 "rum running" came to Steveston. From 1920 to 1933, many daring and enterprising business men along the coast got into the "booze" running business, transporting illegal liquor across the border by boat. Labelled "Rum Runners", they dealt mainly in bourbon, but also carried beer, rye, wine, rum, gin and any other variety of liquor they could sell.
Strangely, the practice was not illegal in BC. The only violations of Canadian law were if the transporters dealt in "moonshine" or failed to pay the required duty on bonded products.
The practice lead to larger boats going down the coast outside the international limit (then 12 miles). Smaller, fast launches would offload the cargo outside the international limit and transport it ashore. Many such boats were actually custom-designed and built for the purpose, emphasizing manoeuvrability and speed to outfox the Coast Guard. The sleek, fast and beautiful Fleetwood of the BHS fleet spent part of her career as a "rum runner".
Like any other human endeavour, "rum running" has its stories of extremes - such as the case of the alcoholic skipper that took a seiner all the way to Tahiti to pick up a load of liquor. Yes, he made it back to Vancouver, but after waiting three days for a pick-up that never arrived, he put the goods in burlap bags and dumped them over the side. Lady luck had deserted him though, for he was spotted and wound up in jail.
Ah well. Crime may not pay -but the hours are good.
With credit to BHS Oral History Project - Volume 1, 1992 -Marie Bannister and Marilyn Clayton
The IONA
The IONA on the ways undergoing major restoration
The IONA is a 38-foot, wooden commercial fishing vessel known as a Collector boat. It was originally built as a "double ender" (both bow and stern have the same V shape), in the 1930's, and was eventually modified by a previous owner. The model of the IONA, carved by Doug Allen, on display in the Murakami Boatworks, shows her as a "double ender". Doug ought to know; he crewed on her when he was 17 in 1947 and has depicted her as she was then. If you look through the wheel-house door, on the model, you can see a replica of the Easthope engine that ran her, as well as a "mini" Coleman stove.
IONA was donated to the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society in 1991 by the Koyanagi Family of Steveston and she was restored by1994. She has spent the last ten years at the Britannia Heritage Shipyard docks and has been a frequent participant in the Workboat Parade and in the Vancouver Boat Show.
IONA was one of the boats on display for Tall Ships 2002. Even the gentle life of a museum piece will take its toll on a wooden hull and she is now on the ways in the Shipyard Building for some needed TLC and repairs because of wear and tear. While in the shop she will also get a complete refinish and some new electronics, including a (donated) depth sounder. Look for her at the Maritime Festival, August 20-22, this summer.
History Comes Home
Silver Ann in the early stages of restoration
The Silver Ann has come full circle. Launched in 1968-69 she was the last boat to be constructed by the Britannia Ship-yard. Relatively small, but typical of her breed she measures 39'4" x 9'6" with a 3' 10" draft.
Her history is a little vague , but here's what we know: She was built for George Osaka as a river gill-netter, and eventually passed through several hands, one of whom reconfigured her as a packer. Her last owner was John Wilkinson.
Some years ago, while tied up at dock, an electrical failure caused her pumps to shut down and she filled with water and sank but was refloated.
In November 2001 she was acquired by the City of Richmond and sits in the Richmond-Boatworks undergoing a complete restortation. She is believed to still have her original engine
For the Silver Ann, history has come full circle in more ways the one. Clint Osaka, one of the volunteers who has worked on restoring her is the great nephew of George Osaka, her original owner.