SKIPPER DIN PAT WALSH:

Din Pat went to sea at the age of 14 and was skipper of a schooner at 18 years of age. He fished the Grand Banks, the Labrador Coast, and Cape St. Mary’s. He was a merchant Navy veteran plying the coastal trade between Sydney, Lunenburg, and other Nova Scotian ports to St. Pierre, St John's, and all parts of Placentia Bay. He captained countless fishing boats and traders under sail and power for about 45 years and never lost a man or a vessel. Included among these vessels were Eileen C MacDonald, Governor Anderson, Caroline Rose, Co-operator II, Ettie L, Betty and Audrey, Glider, Marion Bruce, Eric Keats, Mary Reddy, lris and Verna, Annie Francis and the Catherine Hann.

In 1935 Din Pat was skipper of the “Catherine Hann", a Western Boat of 35 tons built in Merasheen in 1924, and they were fishing off Cape St. Mary’s. Two of the crew members were Amelius Best and Jim Ennis. The second August gale, one of the worst storms ever to hit Placentia Bay, came on with all its fury. Din Pat and his crew headed for the middle of Placentia Bay and deep water and while many other ships and lives were lost, the “Catherine Hann" rode out the storm and arrived safely in Harbour Buffett without losing a single trawl tub off her deck. Din Pat experienced many successful fishing voyages, but one of the most successful was in the "Glider", a four dory schooner of 42 tons which he and his crew loaded 8 or 9 times, landing 2300 quintals of fish.

During that season Leo Pomroy and Jim Connors, two fast and hardworking fishermen from Merasheen, were among his crew, and it is only with men such as these that such voyages were made. Din Pat was skipper of the first diesel powered vessel to enter Merasheen Harbour, the "Eric Keats" and in the winter of 1945 he was in charge of the first gurdy long liner type fishing venture on an experimental basis for the Department of Fisheries. They trawled for halibut in the deep waters off Little Merasheen. Din Pat married Mame Ennis in 1921 and together they raised a family of 7 children.

The Black Sheep

(A favourite song of Philly Pittman and Din Pat)

T’was in a little village town not many miles away,
There lived an old and aged man whose locks were turning gray.
He had three sons, three only sons, though Jack and Bill were sly,
And Ted he was an honest lad and never told a lie.
They did their best to ruin Ted right in the old man's eyes,
Soon their lies began to work and Ted was much despised.
The old man said to him one day “you're heartless to the core",
Those were the words the Black Sheep cried as he lingered near the door.

“Oh don't be angry with me dad don't turn me from your door,
I know that l was wayward, l regret it o'er and o'er,
But give to me another chance and put me to the test.
You'll find the Black Sheep loves his dad far better than the rest."

As years rolled by and time went on the old man he grew old,
He called both Bill and Jack to him and willed them all his gold,
Saying all l want is a little plot a place near your fireside,
One night when Bill returning home he brought with him a bride.
As years rolled by and time went on the old man he grew gray,
One night he heard the three declare “the old fool is in the way",
And they agreed to send him to a poor house that was near,
T’was then he heard the Black Sheep's voice come ringing in his ear.

“Oh don't be angry with me dad don't turn me from your door,
I know that l was wayward, l regret it o'er and o'er,
But give to me another chance and put me to the test,
You'll find the Black Sheep loves his dad far better than the rest."

A carriage drove up to the yard, it bein’ a poor house van,
The two sons pointed to their dad saying “look there is your man”,
Just then a manly form was seen a rushing through the crowd,
"Stop! Stop! You brutes, the Black Sheep cries "This cannot be allowed,
You took the old man’s property and all his gold likewise,
You even stole the little plot containing his wife’s grave,
I am his son but not your kin from now ‘til judgment day”,
And when the crowd they gathered round, they heard the old man say.

“Oh don't be angry with me Ted, I turned you from my door,
I know that l was hasty, I’ll regret it o'er and o'er,
I should have willed you all my gold since you have stood the test,
I found the Black Sheep loves his dad far better than the rest."