Northern Dawn

This vessel is considered by many to be the last (or one of the last) big wooden fishboat to be built on the BC coast. This vessel was christened by Sonja Hansen (cousin of the skipper). Lenny Olafson (Email to Nauticapedia 06/12/2021) stated "Their halibut catches broke records that remain today." James Mackovjak (Gustavus, Alaska) stated "Believed to be the largest catch of halibut yet to be landed on the Pacific Coast, 182,000 lbs. was unloaded at Prince Rupert in May for nearly $60,000. This vessel (Northern Dawn) not only delivered the top catch this season, but last July set the previous record, with a catch of 162,300 lbs. Northern Dawn’s catch was made near the Shumagin Islands, in Western Alaska. The vessel stayed in Area 3B for 46 days and landed her first catch of 120,000 lbs. at Sand Point, Alaska, for the account of the Prince Rupert Fishermen’s Co-operative Association, which also bought the record load a few weeks later. Price paid for the catch averaged 32 cents a pound. (“‘Northern Dawn’s’ 182,000-lb. Trip Sets New Halibut Record,” Pacific Fisherman (July 1962): 15.)"