Zudič Jože

When talking about salt production in Piran’s salt pans during the second half of the 20th century, we cannot forget to mention the brine maker and head of salt-making production Jože Zudič, born Giuseppe Zudich. He was the son of Giuseppe Zudich and Antonia Debernardi. Jože joined the team of workers in charge of the salt production process after his father’s retirement in 1948, at the young age of 14. He continued to be active in this sector well after his own retirement.

During his apprenticeship as a brine maker, he became acquainted with the characteristics of the soil, its importance, and the natural features of the modernized northern area of the Sečovlje salt pans, at the beginning of the 20th century, called Lera. He learned that the correct manoeuvring of water levels plays a key factor in the final quantity of harvested salt. Work tasks in Lera, as well as in the Strunjan salt pans, were divided among maintainers, brine makers and salt makers. That is in stark contrast to Lucija salt pans, and the southern area of the Sečovlje salt pans called Fontanigge, where those tasks belonged only to the salt makers. Work efficiency of the brine makers within the modernized systems of the Sečovlje salt pans is thus of vital importance.

In order to carry out and supervise these demanding tasks, a 3-year schooling programme for salt makers was established in Ulcinj in 1955. It was designed for the future salt pans’ employees of the then common state of Yugoslavia. These school graduates would be in charge of the production process. Jože Zudič, from the Sečovlje salt pans, was chosen to become head of production, based on his acquired knowledge and experience. He managed the production processes in the Sečovlje and Strunjan salt pans during the decades that followed. As head of production, he oversaw tasks such as the correct water cross-flow during all seasons, regular maintenance within all evaporation and crystallization pools, installation of railway wagons on the salt fields in Lera, carpentry work, purchase of boats and the early machines needed for the maintenance of saline infrastructure and numerous other activities.

As well as his duties concerning salt production, he also collaborated with the then director of the City Museum of Piran (later the Maritime Museum of Piran), Miroslav Pahor and assisted in designing plans for the establishment of the open-air Museum of Salt-making. The staff from the Maritime Museum were granted the use of a house located in the nowadays abandoned part of the Sečovlje salt pans, Fontanigge, where they could perform interviews with the former salt makers and other workers or inhabitants of the salt pans. All pieces of information were gathered and edited to be published in the book by Tatjana Poberaj in Miroslav Pahor, entitled The Old Salt Pans of Piran.

Having worked tirelessly for forty years, Jože retired in the late 1980’s. He retained his ties to salt-making. Upon request by the Maritime Museum curator Zora Žagar, he played a decisive role in setting the layout for the Museum of salt-making. He collaborated with the Maritime Museum as a counsellor and tourist guide for ten years. Today he continues to kindly share his knowledge and the secrets of salt-making.