October 1999 ARGONAUTA
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ARGONAUTA The Newsletter of The Canadian Nautical Research Society Volume XVI Number Four October 1999 ARGONAUTA Founded 1984 by Kenneth MacKenzie ISSN No. 0843-8544 Editors Bill Schlielauf Maurice D. Smith Argonauta Editorial Office Marine Museum ofthe Great Lakes at Kingston 55 Ontario Street, Kingston, Ontario K7K 2Y2 e-mail [email protected] Telephone: (613) 542-2261 FAX: (613)542-0043 ARGONAUTA is published four time a year-January, April, July and October The Canadian Nautical Research Society Executive Officers President: William Glover, Ottawa Past President: G. Edward Reed, Ottawa Vice-President: Christon I. Archer, Calgary Vice-President: William R. Glover, London, ON Councilor: Gerald Jordan, Toronto Councilor: James Pritchard, Kingston Councilor: Maurice D. Smith, Kingston Secretary: Richard Gimblett, Ottawa Treasurer: Greg Hannah Canadian Nautical Research Society Mailing Address Membership Business P.O. Box 55035 240 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario, KIP IAI Annual Membership including four issues ofARGONAUTA and four issues of THE NORTHERNMARINER/LE MARINDUNORD: Individuals, $35.00; Institutions, $60.00; Students, $25.00 October 1999 - ARGONAUTA - Page 1 In this Issue Council Comer 1 Editorial 3 Notice ofCNRS AGM, 8-10 June 2000 4 Museum News 5 Letters and Notes 5 - Jim Pritchard "Jacques Cartier's Haven" 6 Comment - Calendar ofMaritime Anniversaries 6 Articles - William Glover "Nautical Nostalgia" 8 - Doug Maginley "An Introduction" 11 - William Schleihauf "The Remains of HMCS Chedabucto" 15 Conferences and Calls for Papers 19 The Periodical Literature 20 Council Corner book review editor. Olaf became the book review editor ofArgonauta in 1990, at a time In writing my first Council Comer when it was our only publication. Since the column as the new President of CNRS let me debut ofNorthern Mariner he has been its only first acknowledge the work ofthose who have book review editor. Unfortunately he has gone before me - the founding president, Keith advised the Editorial Board and Council that he Matthews, Gerry Panting, Barry Gough, Alec will have to pass that task on to someone else. Douglas, Faye Kert and Ed Reed. Without their Olaf, we are all sorry to see you move on, but vision, leadership, and persistence we would wish to express our very real thanks for your not today have a society with nearly three tremendous service. A sub-committee of the hundred members, including eighty-one from Editorial Board has been formed to search not twelve foreign countries, a well regarded for a replacement, (for we all know that there is academic journal, and a very good membership only one Olaf), but for someone who will take newsletter. on the task of offering us intriguing books to review, and then chivying us to produce the But societies such as ours do not happen review within a year of the original promised because ofthe president alone - there are many date. workers in the trenches. OlafJanzenis one such worker whose contributions to the society must In the last issue of Argonauta it was also be recognized. Not only did he organize a announced that Mike Hennessy had to step truly splendid conference at ComerBrook, held aside as co-editor ofthe newsletter because of in conjunction with the Association for the the press of other duties. To him too we all History ofNorthern Seas, but he has been our offer our very sincere thanks for stepping into a October 1999 - ARGONAUTA - Page 2 breach at Kingston andhelpingwithArgonauta. beenreceiving from the MemorialUniversityof At Comer Brook Bill Schleihaufagreed to join Newfoundland forced us to implement several the team. Close readers of Northern Mariner cost measures and also to recommend an will have noted that in every volume he has had increase inourannual subscriptionrates. This is at least one book review, and in some years, a never done easily, but as both Ed pointed out in review in each issue. He is a keen diver - indeed his column and several American members at his presentation at Comer Brook about the loss the AGM reiterated, the proposedincreased fees ofHMS Vanguard, a dreadnought built in 1909 are still lowerthan those for comparable British that rests at the bottom of Scapa Flow as a and American societies, and we offer both a result ofan internal explosion, included one of referred journal and a society newsletter his underwater photographs. I am sure that as a something not done by other societies. After a co-editor of Argonauta Bill will expand the thorough airing of the question, the AGM horizon oftopics covered. Welcome aboard! approved the proposed subscription increases. This challenge highlights the need for the There is another new face to be society to undertake fund raising activities of introduced and welcomed to CNRS. Some our own so that we will be able to cushion members may be aware that we have had increases in the Society's operating expenses difficulty in the Treasurer department recently. without having to pass them on directly to Ifcheques were not cashed, ortax receipts slow members through fee increases. I am taking this to come out, we are sorry, but now things on personally as my "task" during my tenure in appear to be in hand. Lieutenant-Commander the President's chair. Because of work done Greg Hannah has joined CNRS to become the yesterday, CNRS is "all right" today. We must Treasurer. Greg has a wide range ofexperience continue the work for tomorrow. You will hear afloat and ashore, in Canada and on exchange more! with the Royal Navy. Over the course of the summer he was posted from the Maritime Staff Animportantpart ofevery society is the in Ottawa to teach at the Royal Military continuing renewal ofthemembership base. We College, Kingston, in the Continuing Studies can all help with that. Suggest to a friend with Department. So, while he is sorting out new similar interests that they might want to join, or courses and lectures, he is also coming to grips give a subscription as a Christmas or birthday with our books. present. (By the time you receive this, you may well be scrambling for gift ideas.) Ifthe library The annual general meeting was held in you normally use does not have Northern Comer Brook at the conclusion of a very Mariner, talk to the librarian about a directed successful and enjoyable conference. It was gift of an institutional subscription, for which attended by approximately by thirty members. you would get a tax receipt. (If the librarian Ed Reed, in his last Council Corner column as would say "yes", but he/she likes complete president, outlined the challenges that the runs, back issues are available.) Council debated at the January executive meeting and the recommendations that would Finally, members will rememberthat for be brought forward at the AGM. The several years nowwehave had a ''New Scholars curtailment of financial support that we have Award" in the form ofa travel bursary for the October 1999 - ARGONAUTA - Page 3 recipient to present a paperat ourconference. In members, who spurred me into doing active January, as Ed Reed reported, Council decided research. This willingness to bring outsiders to name the award in honour ofGerry Panting. into the fold is an important part of the This year's Panting Ward recipient was Brad Society's ethos, and one ofthe reasons for my Shoebottom. He is completing an MA at the wanting to contribute something in return. My University ofNew Brunswick. His paper was a interests are primarily naval, of the period verynice biographical study ofGaius S. Turner, c1880-1945, and more by chance than design a small ship owner in Harvey Bank, New currently revolve around Royal Navy gunnery Brunswick. Turner's active business career during the First World War. As well, I am one spanned the 1870s to 1890s. Thus he was of the many members who are keen wreck confronted with the challenges ofthe transition divers. from sail to steam, wood to steel, and competition from railways. Watch for this and Argonauta is more than a mere other papers in the coming issues ofNorthern newsletter. Certainly it is an important Mariner. purveyor of news - of the CNRS itself, the members, and pertinent organisations. Itis also Bill Glover a publication that has carried some fascinating studies on a wide assortment oftopics. For it to Editorial stay on course, there is but one requirement: contributions. From you, the reader. Yes, you It is with some trepidation that I appear the person holding Argonauta right this on the decks of Argonauta for the first time, moment. Let us know about your publications costumed as the new co-editor. Although one and activities: take the time to send in the might expect that the signing ofShip's Papers Information Sheet on the back cover. And look took place in a seedy dockside tavern, it should over the various projects that you mean to work be placed on record that the transaction took on, "someday". They may be a long way from place on a minibus during the August 1999 finished, but you could be sitting on nuggets Conference in Newfoundland. Nor was any that are ofgreat interest to other members, who persuasion ofthe liquid sort required (but it was in turn might be able to provide a few pieces of pointed out that with the application ofa little critical, hard-to-fmd information. To start the imagination, there should be plenty of ball rolling, later in this issue you will find a opportunity to visit Kingston and thus occasion small piece on one of Canada's lesser-known to indulge in a particular species of hops war losses, HMCS Chedabucto. flavoured beverage which can be had nowhere else). Bill Schleihauf [email protected] First, a word of introduction.