La Playa Trail Association’s lecture series continues with the fascinating story of how the Portuguese fishing vessels were drafted into service during World War II.

Everyone is welcome to attend this presentation by Portuguese historian/author, Zeca Rodrigues, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with lecture 6-7 p.m. A suggested donation of $10 is accepted at the door.

At one time, San Diego was known as the “Tuna Capital of the World.” Most of the innovations in tuna boat design were born here and used worldwide. Point Loma’s Portuguese community made significant contributions to this cause.

During World War II (1941-45), tuna boats were converted into wartime supply and transport vessels called “Yard Patrol” or YPs.

“They were painted gray and assigned a number,” Rodrigues says. “These vessels were very light and maneuvered well. None of the crews had military experience but they were good navigators.”

History notes that even before the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the U.S. government was eyeing these fishing vessels. Tuna boat crews knew well the coast of San Diego to the Galapagos Islands.

Crews of these vessels were given names, such as Errand Boys of the Pacific; and, the Pork Chop Express because they delivered food to other vessels.

Rodrigues says: “There was a sense of pride letting go of boats. Of 52 fishing vessels given up to the war effort, only 30 returned home. Owners of these boats had to buy them back from the U.S. government, and most by then were pieces of junk.”

Tuesday’s presenter, Rodrigues, was born in a small village called Paul Do Mar, six feet from the ocean on Madeira Island, Portugal.

Her family moved to San Diego when she was 15 years old, and her father worked aboard tuna clippers. After attending the University of California, Berkeley, Rodrigues taught English as a second language and religious education in area churches. (She even took a group of students to Rome to see the Pope.)

For the past 30 years, she has worked for the same law firm as a paralegal in the fishing industry, and is currently completing an important book, “Portuguese in San Diego.”