Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

THE BEGINNING OF WAR, 1939method seemed more economical than building or acquiringsuch a vessel, and on January 19 it was approved that theCompany should be given the contract."Esquimalt had been slightly better prepared than Halifaxas regards boom defence, for early in January 1939 the Captainin Charge at that base had been instructed to proceed withthe building of a single-line anti-submarine net for the harbour,all sections of which were completed by March 20.^^ When warbroke out in Europe, orders were given to lay the boom atonce. Three scows were needed to act as gate and pivot vessels,and the Defence Purchasing Board agreed that the workshould be proceeded with immediately, at a cost not to exceed?39,000 including the purchase of the scows.It was considered more economical to engage the PacificSalvage Co. of \^ancouver, B.C., to do the work with theirequipment and trained crews, than to hire equipment anddepend on the inexperienced casual labour available in thedockyard. As at Halifax there was no time in which to drawup a formal contract, but the Company, the only one in thelocality capable of such an undertaking, agreed to carry outthe task on terms acceptable to the Department. While the jobwas in progress, naval authorities on the west coast discussedthe matter with representatives of the Company, and it wasdecided that costs should be estimated on a "time and material"basis for labour and materials, and that all equipmentshould be rented by the hour. In implementing this informalagreement, however, the Company patriotically lent the servicesof their general superintendent and their chief engineerfree of charge, and their rates for labour were below normal.The laying of the anti-submarine net across Esquimaltharbour was completed by October 25, 1939, at an approximatecost of $44,000. This was slightly more than the amountwhich had been originally approved, because the scows had tobe fitted with steel plates,and because more overtime wasworked than had at first been anticipated. A full report wasforwarded to the War Supply Board on December 18, and theentire project " including the cost was approved on February7, 1940.-^'' With the steps which have been outlined in this chapter,the R.C.N, had begun the war. From this point it plunged" Note on D.N.S. to C.N.S., Dec. 30, 1939, N.S. 1053-4-5 (1).^8Capt. in Charge, Esquimalt, to N.S.H.Q. (signal). Mar. 21. 1939, N.S. 1053-8-1 (1).'"''N Supt., Esquimalt, to N. Sec, Nov. 22, 1939, and A.D.Min. to .Admin. Sec, W.^.B.,Dec. 18, 1939, N.S. 10.53-8-3 (2); P.C. 510.19