The first meeting of the New Year was held on Thursday at the Expanse Hotel when the guest speaker was Fred Walkington M.B.E. The subject of his talk was “The History of Inshore Fishing at Bridlington”.
Up to the 1850’s Bridlington was primarily a port with trade in such items as coal ,timber and tiles with continental Europe. Flamborough ,North and South Landing, Filey, Scarborough, Whitby and Hornsea were more involved with fishing. What fish was caught in Bridlington was landed at Crane Wharf and was sold on the harbour by auction. Local cobles were used to take tourists for a ride in the bay.
In 1846 the harbour was enlarged and this led to an influx of fishermen from Flamborough, Whitby and other places down the coast. Boats were still open decked and all operations were manual, fish was still auctioned on the harbour and transported quickly because there were no ice plants or freezing facilities.
By 1930 a purpose built fish quay was erected at the end of the south pier to separate fishing from the expanding tourist industry. Warehouses for lines , bait, gear and crab pots were being erected at the west end of the harbour. Yawls were going as far as the Dogger Bank and beam trawlers were fishing for flatfish. In the early 1960’s a group of Bridlington fishermen were long lining off Lowestoft for dogfish which was landed at Grimsby. The warehouses , which were becoming dilapidated were burned down in 1962 as the easiest way to get rid of them! (this in the days before Health and Safety regulations!).
It was about this time that Fred began his own fishing career on Liberty. He described this type of boat as being too lightweight for the work and heavier boats were needed for trawling, which led to the introduction of stern trawlers. Modern boats now are loaded with an array of electronic devices
for efficient detection of wrecks, shoals and keeping nets safe. All of which is a far cry from the days when all operations were manual from open decks. However with the introduction of quotas many boats have been sold and Bridlington has a fleet of 54 boats which earned £6 million mainly from shell fishing last year. Throughout his talk Fred showed himself to be well versed in the technicalities of all manner of operations involved with sea fishing. An appropriate vote of thanks was given by Bruce Petfield.
Earlier, before an excellent lunch, the chairman John Heaton had welcomed members and passed on information that the members of Beverley Probus Club would be guests at the February meeting, which is a talk by Michael Fearon on “Maritime Engagements off the Yorkshire Coast”.
Up to the 1850’s Bridlington was primarily a port with trade in such items as coal ,timber and tiles with continental Europe. Flamborough ,North and South Landing, Filey, Scarborough, Whitby and Hornsea were more involved with fishing. What fish was caught in Bridlington was landed at Crane Wharf and was sold on the harbour by auction. Local cobles were used to take tourists for a ride in the bay.
In 1846 the harbour was enlarged and this led to an influx of fishermen from Flamborough, Whitby and other places down the coast. Boats were still open decked and all operations were manual, fish was still auctioned on the harbour and transported quickly because there were no ice plants or freezing facilities.
By 1930 a purpose built fish quay was erected at the end of the south pier to separate fishing from the expanding tourist industry. Warehouses for lines , bait, gear and crab pots were being erected at the west end of the harbour. Yawls were going as far as the Dogger Bank and beam trawlers were fishing for flatfish. In the early 1960’s a group of Bridlington fishermen were long lining off Lowestoft for dogfish which was landed at Grimsby. The warehouses , which were becoming dilapidated were burned down in 1962 as the easiest way to get rid of them! (this in the days before Health and Safety regulations!).
It was about this time that Fred began his own fishing career on Liberty. He described this type of boat as being too lightweight for the work and heavier boats were needed for trawling, which led to the introduction of stern trawlers. Modern boats now are loaded with an array of electronic devices
for efficient detection of wrecks, shoals and keeping nets safe. All of which is a far cry from the days when all operations were manual from open decks. However with the introduction of quotas many boats have been sold and Bridlington has a fleet of 54 boats which earned £6 million mainly from shell fishing last year. Throughout his talk Fred showed himself to be well versed in the technicalities of all manner of operations involved with sea fishing. An appropriate vote of thanks was given by Bruce Petfield.
Earlier, before an excellent lunch, the chairman John Heaton had welcomed members and passed on information that the members of Beverley Probus Club would be guests at the February meeting, which is a talk by Michael Fearon on “Maritime Engagements off the Yorkshire Coast”.