Page 8 - Bulletin 4 2000

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As a result of this Willem Adriaan gave an unfavourable report to the Council of Seventeen

indicating that the west flank of False Bay was not satisfactory for a winter anchorage and could, at
most, accommodate only a couple of ships. Questions were immediately raised about the

thoroughness of his investigation, especially as it was over in three days compared to the several
weeks taken by his father. The report, however, did a great deal to delay bringing Kalk Bay and

Simon's Town into effective use.

Fishing

Kalk Bay nevertheless abounded with fish and many fishing expeditions (of which Willem Adriaan

took advantage and benefited personally) were sent out from Table Bay. Steenbras and Stumpnose

were the most common fish while Roman Rock received its name from the many Red Roman which
could be caught there. Wagons waited at Kalk Bay to take the large bounty back to Cape Town where

the slave population was adequately fed. Simon van der Stel started a fishery in Kalk Bay. His
influence in Kalk Bay increased greatly when the whole area ‘at the Steenberg’ was granted to him

for life as from 1 February 1700. He also obtained the right to graze cattle, to plough, to sow, and to
hunt throughout the South Peninsula.

Thus at the end of the rule of the Van der Stels’ in 1708 the authorities had a greater conception of
False Bay, even though at this time it was only fishing that attracted any real attention.

The 18th Century

Gradually the D. E. I. C. realised the importance of False Bay. Firstly, an enemy could easily attack

across the Cape Flats and, secondly, it could be a safe winter anchorage. According to the

investigation of Möller and de Heere in August 1729, Simon's Bay, with the three northern smaller
inlets of Glencairn, Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay, offered the best winter anchorage along the Cape Coast

for at least 8 to 10 ships. Water was ample although the collection of firewood and the growing of

vegetables presented a problem, especially with regard to the steep terrain.

After the D. E. I. C. shipping disaster of May 1737 in Table Bay, when 8 returning ships sank with
valuable cargo the loss of 208 lives, it was decided, once and for all, that Simon’s Bay would be the

winter anchorage. Saldanha Bay had received a negative report (especially due to lack of water) and
Simon’s Bay remained the only alternative.

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