Statistics:

M.V. George S. Pearson
Previous Name	Wollochet (1925-?) Fox Island (?-1955)
Place Built	Gig Harbour, Washington
Year Built	1925
Retired from BC Ferries	1966
At Retirement:
Vehicle Capacity	18
Passenger Capacity	134
Length	90.6 ft.
Gross Tons	177
Horsepower	220

Special Notes:

• The Wollochet was originally built by Skansie Shipbuilding Company in Gig Harbour, Washington, for the Skansie-operated Washington Navigation Company. She was renamed Fox Island while still with Washington Navigation. While with the company, the ferry was used for service to Day Island and Fox Island in Puget Sound. The Fox Island was subsequently sold to Horluck Transportation Company, then to Olympic Ferries (where she operated on the Keystone - Port Townsend route) and finally to a B.C. company. (Kline and Bayless, 126, 176)

• The Fox Island came to B.C. in 1955 when she was bought by Gulf Island Ferry Company. At this time, the ferry was renamed George S. Pearson. Soon after, Black Ball Ferries charted the ferry for use between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale. (Griffiths and Cadieux, 42-3 ; Turner, 207)

• In 1961, the George S. Pearson joined B.C. Ferries with the rest of the Gulf Island Ferry Company fleet. BC Ferries bought the company on September 1, 1961 for $249,823. (Bannerman, 170)

• The George S. Pearson was sold in 1966 to Nelson Brothers Fisheries Ltd. for $15,250. (Griffiths and Cadieux, 43)

Origin of the Names:

• Wollochet - Named after Wollochet Bay in Washington near Tacoma. According to the Washington State Tourism site, Wollochet is a Native name for "squirting clams." http://www.experiencewashington.com/City_C554.html

• Fox Island - Named after Fox Island, Washington, west of the city of Tacoma. According to the Washington State Tourism site, Fox Island is named after Dr. J.L. Fox, the assistant surgeon of the Wilkes Expedition. http://www.experiencewashington.com/City_C554.html
  The Wilkes Expedition was an American-sponsored maritime expedition which exlpored various coastlines including the Western U.S. in 1841. http://www.wshs.org/columbia/0187-a1.htm

• George S. Pearson - The ferry was named after British Columbia politician George S. Pearson, a cabinet minister (Minister of Health and Welfare) in the coalition government before the Social Credit era. There is very little online information about Pearson, so if you know of any greater significance, please e-mail me. (Griffiths and Cadieux, 42-3)

  For a picture of George S. Pearson (the man): Click Here (third from top)

What happened to the George S. Pearson?

• Possibly became a fish camp for Nelson Brothers Fisheries Ltd. (Bannerman, 170)

• If you have more information, please e-mail me.

Works Cited & Sources:

Bannerman, Gary and Patricia. The Ships of British Columbia. Surrey: Hancock House Publishers, 1985.

Griffiths, Garth, and H.L. Cadieux. Dogwood Fleet. Nanaimo: Cadieux and Griffiths, 1967.

Kline, M.S. and G.A. Bayless. Ferryboats - A Legend on Puget Sound. Seattle: Bayless Books, 1983.

Turner, Robert D. The Pacific Princesses. Victoria: Sono Nis Press, 1977

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This page was last updated on May 28, 2003.

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