Emmett Hunt's Diary - Wednesday August 2, 1882

Wednesday August 2, 1882:  Cloudy and pleasant with some rain at night.  Picked berries for the people today for recreation.   Quite pleasant when you have good company.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Puratich Netshed

Gig Harbor's Netsheds

(The Largest Inventory on the Puget Sound)

We know the commercial fishermen from Gig Harbor and the West Coast have been fishing for salmon that since the the mid-19th century. 

And, the salmon operations seem to over shadow the other major fisheries on the West Coast.  I believe it is time to pay the respect to these other fisheries that they deserve and recognize the fishermen from Gig Harbor that engaged in those operations.  By participating in these other major fisheries, our commercial fishermen became well-known and respected throughout the entire fishing industry.  And each of these fisheries had an effect on all those living on the West Coast and elsewhere in one way or another.  Just think about all the fish you eat in addition to salmon: crab, squid, cod, sole, halibut and tuna to name a few..

The family built, maintained and continue to operate this week's netshed was one of these fishermen.  And, as you will see when you read the Historical Context of the City of Gig Harbor's Netshed Survey the family's legacy is on-going in several major fisheries.  By doing so, their fishing season (or time from home) is closer to eight or nine months rather than just three or four.  

Paul Puratich was born April 13, 1888 and came to Gig Harbor in the early years of 1900.; and in 1917 he was a crew member on Andrew Skansie's purse seiner "Spokane".  According to Lee Makovich in The Fishermen's News  February 2002   "It is believed that the senior Puratich worked as a crewman aboard other fishing boats for several years prior to that time."  

Paul's first boat was built by Skansie Shipyard in 1918 and was christened "Emancipator".  This first boat was very advanced for the time and cost, after fully equipped with everything necessary for fishing, was $6,000.  A lot of money in 1918.  In today's money, that is approximately $92,308.  And, has been maintained and used by the Barhanovich family in Everett since they purchased it in the 1920s.

Paul Puratich was an early believer in the diversification of his fishing operations; and his grandsons continue that philosophy today.  Paul was an active and proficient salmon fisherman in Alaska and the Puget Sound but he was also an early participant in Oregon and California sardine fishing.   Paul had his boats specifically constructed for the purpose of being employed in various fisheries.  Paul's son, John (Johnny) was a pioneer in the Northwest hake fishery; the "St. Janet" was used for this fishery and was kept busy for much of the year.  Robert (Bob) started fishing when he was 7 and Joseph (Joe) started when he was about 8; they both carry on the tradition as a commercial fisherman started by the Grandfather those many years ago.

Some of the Puratich family boats were:  "Favorite"; "Venus"; "Lone Eagle" (lost when involved in a collision with the destroyer "Crosby" in April 1940); "Alaskan"; St. Janet", "Marauder I" and "Marauder II".

I want to thank the City of Gig Harbor for allowing me to use material from the Historic American Engineering Survey on Gig Harbor Net Sheds.  The complete surveys can be located http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=689  

The PURATICH NETSHED is the eighth of 17 netsheds along Gig Harbor’s waterfront and will be the subject of this week’s blog.  A copy of the survey can be accessed at http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=1103.  The survey includes Engineered drawings in Plan and Profile thanks to funds provided by the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the National Trust.  To view images of the Puratich Netshe go to http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/01c61c01c78fc500.pdf

You can also obtain a copy of a brochure for a self-guided tour of the 17 netsheds from the City of Gig Harbor, the Harbor History Museum, or the Chamber of Commerce or click http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf 

To me and many others, the netsheds of Gig Harbor are a constant reminder of the first major industry here after the white settlers arrived.  It was the Europeans escaping hard times in their homelands that came to Gig Harbor and either took up fishing or continued fishing earning them and their families a livelihood on the water harvesting the bountiful fish in the surrounding waters.  The principle fishermen were Croatians, but there were many Scandinavians as well.

The 'netsheds' were built by the immigrants to provide a place to mend nets, repair their boats, provide a gathering place between fishing seasons and perform other jobs necessary to get their boats ready for the next venture at sea.  Fishing is a full time job otherwise known as "12-month job".  Many men fished the Pacific Ocean waters from the coast of South America to the Bering Sea.

Today's fishermen ranging in age from their 60s (maybe 70s) to their early 20s are still carrying on the traditions and values of their ancestors. Fishing is a living, thriving, industry - young people still enter the fishing profession after completing their education.   Over the past 36 years that I have lived in Gig Harbor I have seen many historic net sheds and fishing families properties disappear.  Some of these historic properties have changed hands and have been adapted to reuse and rebuilt retaining little if any of the original features.  

When you look at the west side of Gig Harbor Bay and you'll find  the 17 net sheds we are identifying in this and the other 16 blogs, you can see the remnants of what was one of the most vibrant working waterfronts on the Puget Sound.

Okay, so now I have encouraged you to check out a few of these structures -  how do you go about it? As I mentioned earlier, the City of Gig Harbor has prepared a brochure for a self-guided tour of all 17 net sheds.  Grab a copy and then decide how you are going to do it.  http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf But remember that except for the Skansie and Ancich Brothers netsheds these netsheds are privately owned and you will need permission from the owner to enter unless they are operated as a business enterprise open to the public.

If you have a boat, that is the best way; it allows you to close your eyes and visualize how busy those properties were in their heyday.  But, though not quite as impressive, you can do the same thing walking along Harborview from the old Ferry dock at the mouth of the harbor all the way up to West Shore Marina.  

Tune in next week for the next in our series on the historic net sheds of Gig Harbor.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's Diary - Wednesday July 26, 1882

Wednesday July 26, 1882:  Steady rain all day.  Worked what time I could caulking the boat.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Castelan-Jerkovich Netshed (Rencowski)

Gig Harbor Netsheds

(The Largest Inventory on the Puget Sound)

Why are these buildings called netsheds?  We already know they were used to house  the nets.  But they were also used for storage, temporary bunkhouse for crew members who didn't live in Gig Harbor and as gathering places for gossip and coffee - sort of an early coffeehouse.  

Next to the boats, the nets were one of the most valuable assets and important pieces of equipment stored in them.  Because of this I'm guessing that netshed was the easiest thing to call them, although in some areas of the world they are called boat houses.

A netshed is a working structure built over water where commercial fishermen construct, mend, hang, and dry fishing nets.  These structures are also used to repair their boats and other small equipment.  And, as mentioned above, as an important gathering site for Croatian fishing families in our community.  

I think that Donald Gilich explained nets best in an article in The Peninsula Gateway dated August 2, 1989 "in purse seining the net comes in 100 mesh strips.  The strips are then laced together until the net reaches the size the fisherman wants, usually about 600 mesh deep.  Floats often called corks are sewn across one end of the net, and sinkers, or leads, on the other end."

Donald Gilich went on to explain that over the years "They (the nets) went from cotton to nylon.  That's about the only change there is.  (In 1989)  And the ropes on the net went from hemp to nylon and polyester.  The corks went from regular cork to stryofoam.  The leads were strung on the rope, now they are encased in the rope.  The nice thing about nylon is that it doesn't rot.  Cotton would rot out.  Styrofoam doesn't absord the water like cork did.  Cork would get waterlogged.  We used to wax them."

Cotton also had to be tarred to lengthen their life span, and toughen them, then dried before hanging in the netshed until the next season.  Nick Tarabochia had a tarring set-up where several of the fishermen tarred their nets.  Other fishermen like Nick Castelan had their own tarring equipment. 

Perhaps you have noticed that the old houses along Harborview Drive have a vacant lot next to the house.  These lots are where the fishermen would lay out the nets after tarring to be stretched and dried.  I imagine in late September or October the air would be filled with the strong odor of tar.  After thoroughly dry the nets were gathered up and hung in the netshed for storage until the next season.  

Now we hopefully have a better idea of how labor intensive the nets were and need for net sheds.

So as we get ready to visit the Castelan-Jerkovich Netshed fnd out a little bit about these two families, the Castelans and the Jerkovichs.  But please read the Historic Information on the City's official survey report.  

Nicholas (Nick) Castelan was naturalized a US Citizen ion October 12, 1896 at the age of 22.  His homeland was on the Isle of Mljet,, the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands of the Dalmatia region of Croatia.  Unfortunately Nick died at a very young age of 47 in 1921.  His sons Michael (born in 1914) and Nicholas (born 1916) partnered with John Jerkovich, Sr. to build the netshed.  Previously they had used the land owned by Nick Castelan Sr. to lay out and dry their nets.  That land today is occupied by Millville Condos.

John Jerkovich Sr. was naturalized a US Citizen on February 28, 1927 at age 29.  He died on March 15, 1974.  His son and grandson followed in his footsteps as a fisherman fishing the waters from the Bering Strait to Mexico for salmon, crab, squid, sardines, herring and bottom fish.  Nick Jerkovich Jr. is still very active in the fishing community.

Both the Castelan and Jerkovich families were united by marriage when Nick Castelan's first child, Mary born January 18, 1906 married John Jerkovich, Sr. on March 4, 1924.

For more on the Castelan Family please visit the Harbor History Museum Blog  dated September 20, 2012 and Harbor History Museum Blog dated September 27, 2012. 

I want to thank the City of Gig Harbor for allowing me to use material from the Historic American Engineering Survey on Gig Harbor Net Sheds.  The complete surveys can be located http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=689  

The CASTELAN-JERKOVICH NETSHED is the seventh of 17 netsheds along Gig Harbor’s waterfront and will be the subject of this week’s blog.  A copy of the survey can be accessed at http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=1103.  The survey includes Engineered drawings in Plan and Profile thanks to funds provided by the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the National Trust.  To view images of the Castelan-Jerkovich Netshed (now owned by Rencowski) go to http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/b3f2d6b32ce2f244.pdf.  

You can also obtain a copy of a brochure for a self-guided tour of the 17 netsheds from the City of Gig Harbor, the Harbor History Museum, or the Chamber of Commerce or click http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf 

To me and many others, the netsheds of Gig Harbor are a constant reminder of the first major industry here after the white settlers arrived.  It was the Europeans escaping hard times in their homelands that came to Gig Harbor and either took up fishing or continued fishing earning them and their families a livelihood on the water harvesting the bountiful fish in the surrounding waters.  The principle fishermen were Croatians, but there were many Scandinavians as well.

The 'netsheds' were built by the immigrants to provide a place to mend nets, repair their boats, provide a gathering place between fishing seasons and perform other jobs necessary to get their boats ready for the next venture at sea.  Fishing is a full time job otherwise known as "12-month job".  Many men fished the Pacific Ocean waters from the coast of South America to the Bering Sea.

Today's fishermen ranging in age from their 60s (maybe 70s) to their early 20s are still carrying on the traditions and values of their ancestors. Fishing is a living, thriving, industry - young people still enter the fishing profession after completing their education.   Over the past 36 years that I have lived in Gig Harbor I have seen many historic net sheds and fishing families properties disappear.  Some of these historic properties have changed hands and have been adapted to reuse and rebuilt retaining little if any of the original features.  

When you look at the west side of Gig Harbor Bay and you'll find  the 17 net sheds we are identifying in this and the other 16 blogs, you can see the remnants of what was one of the most vibrant working waterfronts on the Puget Sound.

Okay, so now I have encouraged you to check out a few of these structures -  how do you go about it? As I mentioned earlier, the City of Gig Harbor has prepared a brochure for a self-guided tour of all 17 net sheds.  Grab a copy and then decide how you are going to do it.  http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf But remember that except for the Skansie and Ancich Brothers netsheds these netsheds are privately owned and you will need permission from the owner to enter unless they are operated as a business enterprise open to the public.

If you have a boat, that is the best way; it allows you to close your eyes and visualize how busy those properties were in their heyday.  But, though not quite as impressive, you can do the same thing walking along Harborview from the old Ferry dock at the mouth of the harbor all the way up to West Shore Marina.  

Tune in next week for the next in our series on the historic net sheds of Gig Harbor.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's Diary - Wednesday July 19, 1882

Wednesday July 19, 1882:  Weather the same size & color.  Spent the day in the hay and nothing more.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Ancich Brothers Netshed

Gig Harbor Netsheds

(The Largest Inventory on the Puget Sound)

The consequence of circumstances.   This phrase caused me to think about the strange things that can happen without any foresight or planning.  In other words the result (in this instant of a trip) following an event (boarding the same boat for America).

Two unrelated young men, age 30 and age 25, bearing the same surname find themselves on a boat leaving Croatia and headed to America.  Those two young men were Peter Ancich and Martin Ancich.  So what?  They find that they are both going to Gig Harbor and both join the Croatian fishing community.  If this isn't enough, they acquire adjoining properties on the waterfront and build their homes and netsheds.  Unfortunately the older young man's home and first netshed burn but he does rebuild the netshed.

Last week we visited Martin Ancich and Nick Tarabochia's working netshed.  Today we are going to stop by Peter and John Ancich's netshed.  Check out a previous blog on Peter Ancich Sr. http://harborhistorymuseum.blogspot.com/2013/04/peter-ancich-sr-and-ancich-brothers.html

We are quite lucky that the Ancich Brother's netshed is still standing.  It was almost lost a few years ago when, following the last Ancich brother, John's death.  The Executor of the Estate sold the property including the netshed to Butler & Steele, Real Estate developers who had plans to build two residential structures sharing a garage for, as I recall, 20 vehicles.  However due to various circumstances, Butler & Steele did not construct their project. 

Fortunately the City of Gig Harbor was successful with community backing of placing the netshed on the Gig Harbor Historic Register.  ow it is registered as a historic property under Resolution #743-A, adopted March 10, 2008 by Gig Harbor City Council.  And in August 2012 the property was purchased fby the City of Gig Harbor thereby saving the netshed.  At the present time the City of Gig Harbor and the City's Parks & Recreation Commission are reviewing various visioning proposals for the development and inclusion in the Historic Working Waterfront. 

I want to thank the City of Gig Harbor for allowing me to use material from the Historic American Engineering Survey on Gig Harbor Net Sheds.  The complete surveys can be located http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=689  

The old ANCICH BROTHERS NETSHED is the sixth of 17 netsheds along Gig Harbor’s waterfront and will be the subject of this week’s blog.  A copy of the survey can be accessed at http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=1103.  The survey includes Engineered drawings in Plan and Profile thanks to funds provided by the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the National Trust.  To view images of the Ancich Brothers Netshed (now owned by City of Gig Harbor) go to http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/b3f2d6b32ce2f244.pdf.  

You can also obtain a copy of a brochure for a self-guided tour of the 17 netsheds from the City of Gig Harbor, the Harbor History Museum, or the Chamber of Commerce or click http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf 

To me and many others, the netsheds of Gig Harbor are a constant reminder of the first major industry here after the white settlers arrived.  It was the Europeans escaping hard times in their homelands that came to Gig Harbor and either took up fishing or continued fishing earning them and their families a livelihood on the water harvesting the bountiful fish in the surrounding waters.  The principle fishermen were Croatians, but there were many Scandinavians as well.

The 'netsheds' were built by the immigrants to provide a place to mend nets, repair their boats, provide a gathering place between fishing seasons and perform other jobs necessary to get their boats ready for the next venture at sea.  Fishing is a full time job otherwise known as "12-month job".  Many men fished the Pacific Ocean waters from the coast of South America to the Bering Sea.

Today's fishermen ranging in age from their 60s (maybe 70s) to their early 20s are still carrying on the traditions and values of their ancestors. Fishing is a living, thriving, industry - young people still enter the fishing profession after completing their education.   Over the past 36 years that I have lived in Gig Harbor I have seen many historic net sheds and fishing families properties disappear.  Some of these historic properties have changed hands and have been adapted to reuse and rebuilt retaining little if any of the original features.  

When you look at the west side of Gig Harbor Bay and you'll find  the 17 net sheds we are identifying in this and the other 16 blogs, you can see the remnants of what was one of the most vibrant working waterfronts on the Puget Sound.

Okay, so now I have encouraged you to check out a few of these structures -  how do you go about it? As I mentioned earlier, the City of Gig Harbor has prepared a brochure for a self-guided tour of all 17 net sheds.  Grab a copy and then decide how you are going to do it.  http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf But remember that except for the Skansie and Ancich Brothers netsheds these netsheds are privately owned and you will need permission from the owner to enter unless they are operated as a business enterprise open to the public.

If you have a boat, that is the best way; it allows you to close your eyes and visualize how busy those properties were in their heyday.  But, though not quite as impressive, you can do the same thing walking along Harborview from the old Ferry dock at the mouth of the harbor all the way up to West Shore Marina.  

Tune in next week for the next in our series on the historic net sheds of Gig Harbor.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's Diary - Wednesday July 12, 1882

Wednesday July 12, 1882:  The warmest day of the season so far 93 in the shade so we suffer.  Went down and put a little paint on the boat  then went berrying.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Ancich-Tarabochia Netshed

Gig Harbor Net Sheds
(The Largest Inventory on the Puget Sound

As we  walk along the waterfront and visit the various netsheds, what type reaction do you feel?  Are you just looking at some old buildings with very little architectural interest?  Or do you find yourself reminiscing about the lives of the fishermen, especially in the the first half of the 20th century?  

I hope the recognition of what a busy hard-working waterfront the harbor was is becoming more visible and allows you to see it as it before many properties changed hands and netsheds were replaced by pleasure craft marinas.  And although we are only concentrating on the west side of the harbor, the east side (Pierce County) was also engaged in maritime activities:  net sheds, boatbuilding and other maritime activities.  

We started our tour of the working waterfront at the Gilich Netshed, Morin/Lovrovich Netshed and then came to Conrad M.Anderson's Anderson Boatyard where Conrad built approximately 15 larger fishing vessels in the 1920-1930s.  Although this is not a netshed, but instead a boatyard, it is important when speaking of the working waterfront.  It was and continues to be a constant reminder of Gig Harbor's importance as a working waterfront.  Conrad's sons ran the boatyard after their father retired until World War II and the boatyard closed until Art Glein bought it in 1945.  You can read about Art Glein, Glein Boatbuilding (Eddon Boatyard) published July 26, 2012 at Harbor History Museum Blog. 

The next owners were Ed Hoppen and Don Harper who bought the yard in 1950.  Today the property is owned by the City of Gig Harbor and leased to Gig Harbor Boatshop where important maritime skills, workshops and waterfront events are held.  Stop by and chat with the folks there to learn even more about our working waterfront. 

As we continued along on our walk we visited the Bujacich Netshed and the Ivanovich Netshed.  Today we'll stop at the Ancich-Tarabochia Netshed, the fifth one on our tour.

I want to thank the City of Gig Harbor for allowing me to use material from the Historic American Engineering Survey on Gig Harbor Net Sheds.  The complete surveys can be located http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=689  

The old ANCICH-TARABOCHIA NETSHED is the fifth of 17 netsheds along Gig Harbor’s waterfront and will be the subject of this week’s blog.  A copy of the survey can be accessed at http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/page.php?id=1101.  The survey includes Engineered drawings in Plan and Profile thanks to funds provided by the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the National Trust.  To view images of the Ancich-Tarabochia Netshed (now owned by George Ancich and Nick Tarabochia, Jr) go to http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/b3f2d6b32ce2f244.pdf.  

You can also obtain a copy of a brochure for a self-guided tour of the 17 netsheds from the City of Gig Harbor, the Harbor History Museum, or the Chamber of Commerce or click http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf 

To me and many others, the netsheds of Gig Harbor are a constant reminder of the first major industry here after the white settlers arrived.  It was the Europeans escaping hard times in their homelands that came to Gig Harbor and either took up fishing or continued fishing earning them and their families a livelihood on the water harvesting the bountiful fish in the surrounding waters.  The principle fishermen were Croatians, but there were many Scandinavians as well.

The 'netsheds' were built by the immigrants to provide a place to mend nets, repair their boats, provide a gathering place between fishing seasons and perform other jobs necessary to get their boats ready for the next venture at sea.  Fishing is a full time job otherwise known as "12-month job".  Many men fished the Pacific Ocean waters from the coast of South America to the Bering Sea.

Today's fishermen ranging in age from their 60s (maybe 70s) to their early 20s are still carrying on the traditions and values of their ancestors. Fishing is a living, thriving, industry - young people still enter the fishing profession after completing their education.   Over the past 36 years that I have lived in Gig Harbor I have seen many historic net sheds and fishing families properties disappear.  Some of these historic properties have changed hands and have been adapted to reuse and rebuilt retaining little if any of the original features.  

When you look at the west side of Gig Harbor Bay and you'll find  the 17 net sheds we are identifying in this and the next 16 blogs, you can see the remnants of what was one of the most vibrant working waterfronts on the Puget Sound.

Okay, so now I have encouraged you to check out a few of these structures -  how do you go about it? As I mentioned earlier, the City of Gig Harbor has prepared a brochure for a self-guided tour of all 17 net sheds.  Grab a copy and then decide how you are going to do it.  http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/7ddc034fdcde1ad9.pdf But remember that except for the Skansie netshed these net sheds are privately owned and you will need permission from the owner to enter unless they are operated as a business enterprise open to the public.

If you have a boat, that is the best way; it allows you to close your eyes and visualize how busy those properties were in their heyday.  But, though not quite as impressive, you can do the same thing walking along Harborview from the old Ferry dock at the mouth of the harbor all the way up to West Shore Marina.  

Tune in next week for the next in our series on the historic net sheds of Gig Harbor.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.

Emmett Hunt's Diary - Wednesday July 5, 1882

Wednesday, July 5, 1882:  Weather the same but somewhat breezy.  The Polks go home and take my huckleberries with them.  The PM I go down to Spray's (sic) where remain overnight.

© 2012 Harbor History Museum. All rights reserved.