article about history of ab diving in Monterey

Cool writeup.
http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2010/2010-Oct-07/history-fest-monterey-channels-deep-history-all-weekend/1/

OK, it's not really about the history of ab diving. Just trying to plug my wife's paper...it's usually got some good stuff.

Pretty cool article, thanks for sharing a cool piece of Monterey history with us all

Here is some follow up from a good friend of mine Buzz Owen who I forward this link on to he had some cool back round info, here is Buzz's email back to me.

Hello all,

      I met Roy in 1960, and saw him again in 1963 when a friend and I were preparing a statement about Sea Otters for the State Senate Fact Finding Committee that was having a hearing in San Luis Obispo on (I think) 23 Nov. 1963.  He told me of this massive reef area that had this gigantic population of abalone on it near Point Sur.  This was just before WWII stopped the Japanese commercial abalone diving on the Monterey coast, I believe.  When he went back after the war was over, the abalone were all gone.  He said at the time there was some thought that the construction of Hwy. 1 had caused silting that did the reef (and whole area) in, but later realized that the Sea Otter had come into the area and destroyed the entire abalone population there.  He also told me that his father had pointed out Sea Otters to him about 1936, and told him that they ate abalone.  I remember Roy was extremely friendly and was super eager to help us out.  In 1960, he steered a friend of mine and I to the San Jose Creek area (near Point Lobos) to look for Pinto Abalones.  On that dive (we didn’t find a single animal or shell) there were Sea Otters all around us in the water.  I remember they were rushing up to us real curious and sticking their heads up as high as they could to see us better.  I am glad to hear Roy is doing well – what a great guy!   Here are three Photo Plates of Pinto Abalone.  Pretty things aren’t they?? 
     I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the “White” Abalone (Haliotis sorenseni Bartsch, 1940), but it was Roy that actually discovered the first examples of this species that were found – just a short distance outside the Santa Barbara Breakwater – in probably a bit over 60 feet of water – this was in 1939 or so (?).  Very few were found at first – they were rare on the coast - but later found to be common at some of the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara.  At any rate, Roy gave the specimens to Andy Sorensen of Pacific Grove who passed them on to a Conchologist at the US National Museum, Dr. Paul Bartsch.  Bartsch determined they represented a species unknown to science, and named them Haliotis sorenseni after Andy.  Well, there are many who feel it would have been far more appropriate if this new species were going to be named after a person, that it should have been Roy, the discoverer, whose name was used – thus Haliotis hattori – but such was not to be.  I frequently remember this when I am discussing this beautiful species.  I am attaching a photo plate of a particularly nice specimen to this letter.  I believe I have Roy’s e-mail address and will send this to him as well!  Great guy!!      Cheers,      Buzz
 
The last photo is of Roy and and two friends in the early 1960’s (George Fraley and Earl Stanley) – members of the (get this) “Monterey Peninsula Sea Otters” dive club formed in the early 1950’s – little did they know what was going to come to pass (except maybe Roy!).  I went diving with George at Carmel Meadows in 1953 when there were abalone all over the bottom!!  The Sea Otter came north across Point Lobos in the mid to late 50’s and the rest is history.......

More from Buzz Owen on it,
 I just love that guy Roy – God what a lot of history is wrapped up in that man!  I hope he lives past 100!!   Would love to see him again sometime!!           Cheers,                  Buzz

Actually, George Fraley who was in the photo I sent you, may remember Floyd also.  Floyd and I made that trip in Aug. 1953 to see George, who took us both diving at Carmel Meadows, along with a guy named John Poscus (sp?).  We also went diving at PG City Beach at Lovers Point.  This is in the shadow of Hopkin’s Marine Station, and was the first time I ever saw the Red Abalone alive!   THEY WERE ALL OVER THE ROCKS IN 8-10 FEET – AREA TOTALLY CLOSED!   The whole population abruptly disappeared not long after when the Sea Otter came into the area, moving north from Point Lobos, etc.  Floyd had NO protection from the cold water and didn’t stay in long, and I had an old Bel Aqua type rubber shirt that leaked like all hell.  GOD the water was COLD!   Probably about 47-48 degrees!  I had a bad cold and blocked sinuses, and came up with bunches of blood and snot in my mask, but I didn’t care one diddly shit!!  WE were “Bullet Proof” in those days!  I remember Floyd and I took some reds back with us alive and tried to refresh them in tide pools on the way south – sure didn’t keep them alive, but may have extended their time to processing?    Floyd, do you remember this? Attached is a letter that George sent me in 1953, before our visit.  I will never know WHY it is dated “Nov. 18, 1953”!   I would bet my life Floyd and I went up there in AUGUST, 1953!   This will forever remain a mystery.....      Hard to believe that this was almost 60 years ago!!                Cheers,       Buzz.

(George and the guys up there wore sweat shirts then [or just went out with trunks].  George showed Floyd and I the technique the divers up there used to go diving in the cold water.  They would rush into the water to the level of their trunks and then splash water on their upper bodies with their hands for a few seconds.  Then retreat from the water briefly, and then rush back and get in all the way...   I viewed all this with suspicion I must admit....    My diving Guru Al Larson used to say “getting your balls wet was half the battle”.   He had a lot more fat on him which meant he could always stay in a lot longer than I could.....    This was in La Jolla about 1952.  I remember once when diving at Bird Rock, La Jolla, I WAY overstayed in the water past the point I was in violent shakes [not even a sweat shirt then], and after getting out sitting in Al’s 1948 Plymouth with the heater and engine running full bore, and 30 minutes later I was still in the shakes!  I was chilled to the bone! )

(George gave me the big red shell.  It is a rare “souvenir” of the pre-Sea Otter days.  A 10” red from Monterey!)

Awesome!!!

Thanks a lot Matt for sharing the pics, letter and story....what a rich history!

Truly fascinating.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Jim

DUDE! Matt! you just got like 1000 bonus pts in my book! That was so f'n cool. I really enjoyed reading Buzz's msg and that old letter. Thank you!

I remember watching a special on kqed that showed be the chinese harvesting abalone on the 1800's from boats with long sticks that had a hook at the end.   

I remember watching a special on kqed that showed be the chinese harvesting abalone on the 1800's from boats with long sticks that had a hook at the end.   

...did you call caltip??

Really liked the article PK!  Totally cool glimpse into the past of where we spend sooooo much time each year.  Makes me want to learn a lot more about the history of our coastal waters.   

Thanks Pat and Matt. That's some cool chit there. jim

I remember watching a special on kqed that showed be the chinese harvesting abalone on the 1800's from boats with long sticks that had a hook at the end.   

...did you call caltip??

It appears that someone did! But I think they were just given a "warning". 

http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-pioneers/chinese.html

After looking at the slides of those pretty Pinto Abs that Matt posted I am wondering if this little shell that I brought home from SWS for my daughter last weekend is a Pinto and not a Red??

What do you guys think??

Pretty no matter what!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

I remember watching a special on kqed that showed be the chinese harvesting abalone on the 1800's from boats with long sticks that had a hook at the end.   

...did you call caltip??

It appears that someone did! But I think they were just given a "warning". 

http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-pioneers/chinese.html

cool link thanks for posting.

I have A huge Ab shell that I found in the sand dunes in Fort Ord A couple of years ago, it must be ancient, I will post A pic when I get home. My guess is its better than A ten...The articles and letters were great guys I really enjoyed reading thanks.