Larsen Bay Cannery Is Big Operation
(Editor’s note: This is the second
in a series of articles by Mrs. Eu
dora Preston, in which she de
scribes her visits among the in
habitants of the villages on Kodiak
Island.)
By Eudora Preston
I flew into Larsen Bay from
Karluk on the mail run. Here I
was house guest of Mr. and Mrs.
Lloyd Howe and their son Jim.
Pilot “Al” took me to the cannery
office and introduced me to Bruno
Tomina'li, the Office Manager. He
in turn took me to Mrs. Howe, who
is operating the cannery laundry
this summer. Jim is marking time
until his fishing permit arrives.
He will be seining alone in his own
dory as he is under age. Lloyd
Howe is operating the labeling
machine. What a huge cannery
this is. The largest in the State, I
understand. Three lanes and so ex
tensive the staff goes around on
bicycles! Jim took me through and
did a very commendable job of
explaining the machinery opera
tions. This year Larsen Bay is
bringing in Eskimo workers to re
place the Filipino. The cannery
workers say the Eskimo are the
best workers they have had and
they are always happy. This will
be a much needed boost to their
economy. I am happy to see this.
Bill Mosier is the very capable
cook and turns out excellent meals
in the cafeteria style mess hall,
new this year. John Seible is the
baker. His sweet rolls disappear
at “mug-up” like magic. John is
European born, and there learned
his trade. Need I say more? Met
Russell Lotti the cannery cook;
now I know why I like Alaska
canned salmon. Stewart Rouch, the
office bookkeeper, always had a
ready grin whenever we met. A1
St. Germain is back again this year
as Radio Operator. Pete Marinko
vich the cannery superintendent,
cheerful and well liked by all is,
of course, one of the bicycle riders.
His wife, Dolly, runs the store and
P. 0. It is seldom you fimd such a
delightful person both capable and
attractive.
Jim was my day time guide.
Between visiting we found time to
halibut fish and hunt octopus. De
lightful eating. We stopped in for
morning coffee with Marie Jones,
now living at Larsen Bay. Inter
rupted Margaret Rastopsoff in her
washing. I was very sorry to have
missed seeing Dora Aga but
she and John were out fishing.
One evening Mrs. Howe and I
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walked over to Ella Carisen’s and
had a very nice visit. Two of her
children, Herman and Evelyn, are
home from Mt. Edgecumbe. This
fall Bobby will join them as a
freshman. I left Larsen Bay with
the desire to return and get to
know the people better and see
more of the area.
Fly with Kodiak Airways and
see the island! This is NOT a
commercial. From Larsen Bay I
flew to Afognak via Lazy Bay and
Old Harbor. If you have never
toured this beautiful island, by no
means pass up such an opportun
ity. The mail must be delivered
and passengers must get off and
get on. I was the one that gained
in this trip.
I was the house guest of Paddy
and Nadia fuller and arrived just
aft dinner time! Afognak is my
idea of THE place to retire. This
village was founded in the early
part of the last century under the
name of Ratkovsky, for the aged
and pensioned employees of the
Russian American Co. The village
extends in a single row of houses,
widely scattered, about a mile
along the beach of Afognak Bay.
Some other time I will write
about Afognak. After dinner John
Sharatin and his bride Thao drop
ped in. John and Paddy were get
ting the “Norman J” ready for the
season. While Mary and Linda
polished off the dishes and “baby
set” Patricia and young Norman,
the men drove Nadia and me over
to the Mill to meet the people in
that area. It is about 15 miles of
lovely country road. Not all were
home but we had coffee and visited
with the Wills, newcomers to Afog
nak, who are here to stay and
ranch. They are experienced ranch
ers from Wyoming and I expect
to hear a lot about them. Ira and
Mary Sheppard were also there, so
of course we did a lot of politick
ing and talking of mutual friends
in other parts of the state. Larry
and Kathrine Shaw had just re
turned home after checking their
“net” so we stopped in to say
“hello.”
The next day Nadia and I started
off on foot. We had seen “Junie,”
John and Paddy off to the fishing
grounds. We found her mother,
Mrs. Serge Sharatin, Sr. busy
washing, but she took time out to
make mid-morning tea and visit.
She was glad to hear the news I
brought from Karluk of her friends
there. Those of us who have a
common ground, such as native
plants and flowers, never run out
of things to talk about. Here is a
very charming lady and a wonder
ful mother. We were about to leave
when two more daughters arrived.
Paula Malutin (Mrs. Joe) and
Pasha. From there we went over
to visit with Betty Nelson, another
gardener. They are building a
beautiful home overlooking the
Bay. We had a brief visit with
Julia Knagin and she was glad to
get her mother’s message I car
ried from Karluk.
The next day I was to leave so
we went to see Helen Nelson for a
brief visit. In the morning we had
Britpa Ellison send word I was
ready to leave and go to Ouzinkie.
While there I met Irene Nelson
and her baby son. As we walked
along the beach we watched two
small children playing in the water
in bathing suits, while their mother
watched. It was Tena Larson and
her two little girls, who had been
my next door neighbors here in
Kodiak. So good to see them again.
We stopped and had lunch with
Ralph Demidoff, Nadia’s uncle, a
very fine man. We visited until
Bob Hall picked me up.
Herman Haakinson arranged for
me to stay at the Mission. While
wandering around town I talked
with several and met mutual
friends again. Fay Haakinson took
me up to meet Jennie Chernikoff.
We had a delightful visit and I
learned much of the problems
there. The pattern is much the
same in all the rural areas. I
talked briefly with her daughter
in-law. Mrs. Mike Chernikoff. Eric
Bullmer invited me to Sunday
breakfast at the cannery but I was
unable to go. I regret that.
That afternoon the MV Expan
sion came in and I returned that
way. It was like coming home. I
knew most of the passengers and
crew, for a few years ago I made
the trip to Nikolski. Agnes Schlos
ser, a teacher whom I have known
for over 20 years, was aboard. Of
course I had dinner aboard with
her and caught up on all the state
wide news of old friends from
Point Hope to Ketchikan.
Boucher In Charge
Sergeant John Boucher will be
in charge of the local police force
during the absence of the Chief of
Police, according to an announce
ment by R. E. Vickery.
Vickery will be away on vacation
for two months.
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