Britain's Distant Water Fishing Industry, 1830-1914
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BRITAIN'S DISTANT WATER FISHING INDUSTRY, 1830-1914 A STUDY IN TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE being a Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Hull by MICHAEL STUART HAINES APRIL 1998 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 LIST OF TABLES 5 INTRODUCTION 12 i THE THESIS 14 ii CONTEXT 15 iii SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY 19 PART ONE THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE 28 CHAPTER 1 THE FISH TRADE 29 i FISH AND THE FISHERIES 29 ii DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY TO 1830 37 iii LATENT DEMAND 44 CHAPTER 2 DISTRIBUTION 50 i INLAND TRANSPORT 50 ii PORT INFRASTRUCTURE 68 iii ACTUAL DEMAND 78 PART TWO TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND FISH PRODUCTION 84 CHAPTER 3 SAIL 85 i TRAWLING 85 ii SMACKS 96 iii ICE 118 iv STEAM AND SMACKS 127 CHAPTER 4 EARLY STEAMERS 134 i EXPERIMENTS AND TUGS 134 ii STEAM FISHING BOATS 143 CHAPTER 5 DEVELOPMENTS AFTER 1894 182 i THE OTTER-TRAWL 182 ii DEMERSAL FISHERIES 188 iii PELAGIC FISHERIES 198 iv MOTORS AND WIRELESSES 211 PART THREE RAMIFICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE 217 CHAPTER 6 THE INDUSTRY 218 i BUSINESS ORGANIZATION 218 ii HUMAN RESOURCES 233 CHAPTER 7 EXTERNAL FORCES 259 i EUROPEAN FISHING INDUSTRIES 259 ii PERCEPTIONS OF THE FISHERIES 274 iii LEGACY 288 PART FOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY 294 PART FIVE APPENDIX 306 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the National Fishing Heritage Centre, Great Grimsby, for providing funds that enabled completion of this thesis. All the work was done from the University of Hull, and my gratitude is extended to the secretarial staff of the History Department and Kevin Watson for help with various practical matters, together with staff at the Brynmor Jones Library and Graduate Research Institute. Dr Rod Ambler provided valuable and constructive criticism, while outside the university, staff at the Public Record Office, Kew, were most helpful and Dr Robb Robinson gave much advice and made numerous suggestions on various aspects of the work. Finally, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr David J.Starkey, for his help and attention over the past few years. LIST OF TABLES Table 1 13 QUANTITY AND VALUE OF FISH LANDED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 2 22 (i) FISHING BOATS OF 15 TONS OR MORE REGISTERED IN 1883 (ii) FISHING BOATS OF 15 TONS OR MORE REGISTERED IN 1913 Table 3 44 PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF POPULATION Table 4 46 (i) POPULATION OF SELECTED CITIES (ii) POPULATION OF CONURBATIONS Table 5 47 (i) AVERAGE WAGES (ii) WAGES AND EARNINGS (iii) COST OF LIVING AND REAL WAGES Table 6 53 QUANTITY OF FISH FORWARDED BY THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY FROM HULL Table 7 54 QUANTITY OF FISH LANDED AT GRIMSBY Table 8 55 QUANTITY OF FISH FORWARDED BY RAIL FROM GRIMSBY Table 9 55 QUANTITY OF FISH FORWARDED BY THE M,S & L, N.E.R, G N.R AND SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY COMPANIES Table 10 56 QUANTITIES OF FISH FORWARDED BY THE NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY Table 11 57 QUANTITY OF FISH FORWARDED BY THE GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY FROM HARWICH. Table 12 59 QUANTITY OF FISH DELIVERED TO BILLINGSGATE MARKET BY RAIL AND SEA Table 13 61 QUANTITY OF FISH CONVEYED BY RAIL THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 14 62 QUANTITY OF FISH FORWARDED BY RAIL FROM GRIMSBY, HULL AND ABERDEEN Table 15 64 QUANTITY OF FISH FORWARDED BY RAIL FROM THE BRIXHAM, RAMSGATE AND LOWESTOFT Table 16 79 NUMBER OF FISHMONGERS' RETAIL OUTLETS IN MANCHESTER AND SALFORD Table 17 82 THE FISH TRADE IN HULL Table 18 82 FISH AND CHIP SHOPS IN PRESTON Table 19 100 PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED FISHING BOATS IN EACH CLASS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (i) NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS (ii) TONNAGES Table 20 100 FIRST CLASS FISHING BOATS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 21 101 SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS REGISTERED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 22 102 PROPORTION OF SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS IN THE FISHING FLEET OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 23 103 LANDINGS OF WET FISH (EXCL. PELAGIC SPECIES) BY SMACKS AND STEAMERS (i) ENGLISH CHANNEL (ii) BRISTOL CHANNEL Table 24 104 PROPORTION OF SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS IN THE FISHING FLEET (i) GRIMSBY (ii) HULL (iii) RAMSGATE (iv) BRIXHAM Table 25 106 FIRST CLASS FISHING BOATS AND SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT: (i) GRIMSBY (ii) HULL Table 26 108 FIRST CLASS FISHING BOATS AND SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT LOWESTOFT Table 27 110 FIRST CLASS FISHING BOATS AND SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT RAMSGATE Table 28 112 FIRST CLASS FISHING BOATS AND SAIL-POWERED FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT BRIXHAM Table 29 122 BRITISH IMPORTS OF NORWEGIAN ICE Table 30 124 ICE SUPPLIES AT HULL Table 31 125 ICE SUPPLIES AT GRIMSBY Table 32 126 IMPORTS OF ICE AT TEN PORTS Table 33 139 LANDINGS OF FISH AT NORTH SHIELDS Table 34 147 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT: (i) GRIMSBY (ii) HULL Table 35 149 AVERAGE TONNAGES OF STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT HULL AND GRIMSBY Table 36 150 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT BOSTON Table 37 151 AVERAGE TONNAGES OF STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 38 152 PROPORTION OF STEAM FISHING BOATS IN THE FISHING FLEETS OF: (i) UNITED KINGDOM (ii) ENGLAND AND WALES (ii) SCOTLAND Table 39 153 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT SCARBOROUGH Table 40 156 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT CARDIFF Table 41 158 STEAM FISHING BOATS REPORTED TO BE WORKING AND NUMBER REGISTERED AT MILFORD Table 42 159 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT MILFORD Table 43 161 STEAM FISHING BOATS REPORTED TO BE WORKING AND NUMBER REGISTERED AT FLEETWOOD Table 44 162 STEAM FISHING BOATS REPORTED TO BE WORKING AND NUMBER REGISTERED AT PLYMOUTH Table 45 164 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT NORTH SHIELDS Table 46 165 PADDLE AND SCREW-DRIVEN FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT NORTH SHIELDS Table 47 166 NUMBER AND TYPE OF STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT NORTH SHIELDS Table 48 167 STEAM TRAWLERS REGISTERED AT GRANTON AND LEITH Table 49 169 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT ABERDEEN Table 50 172 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND Table 51 175 FISHING VESSELS BUILT FOR GRIMSBY AND HULL, 1882-91. Table 52 176 'BRITISH FISHING STEAMERS OF 15 TONS AND UPWARDS' CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO MATERIAL USED IN CONSTRUCTION Table 53 179 NUMBER OF REGISTERED FISHING BOATS USING LINES AT GRIMSBY, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CREW SIZE Table 54 187 COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF BEAM AND OTTER TRAWLS Table 55 187 (i) QUANTITIES OF SELECTED DEMERSAL SPECIES LANDED IN ENGLAND AND WALES (ii) QUANTITIES OF SELECTED DEMERSAL SPECIES LANDED IN SCOTLAND (iii) VESSELS LANDING FISH (EXCLUDING HERRING) IN SCOTLAND IN 1906 Table 56 189 PERCENTAGE OF WET FISH (EXCLUDING PELAGIC SPECIES) LANDED BY ENGLISH AND WELSH VESSELS FROM SELECTED FISHING GROUNDS IN 1906 AND 1913 Table 57 191 NUMBER OF LANDINGS FROM THE SAME GROUNDS BY TYPES OF FISHING BOAT IN 1906 Table 58 198 TRAWLERS CONSTRUCTED IN SCOTLAND Table 59 199 PERCENTAGE OF STEAM FISHING BOATS EMPLOYED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AT DECEMBER EACH YEAR CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO TONNAGE Table 60 200 QUANTITIES AND VALUES OF HERRING LANDED IN UNITED KINGDOM Table 61 205 STEAM FISHING BOATS REGISTERED AT LOWESTOFT Table 62 206 NUMBER OF STEAM DRIFTERS REGISTERED AT ENGLISH NORTH SEA PORTS Table 63 207 FISHING BOATS (NON-TRAWLERS) CONSTRUCTED IN SCOTLAND Table 64 207 QUANTITIES OF HERRING LANDED BY STEAM AND SAIL VESSELS IN SCOTLAND IN 1906 Table 65 210 PORTS LANDING OVER 10,000 CWTS. OF TRAWLED HERRING Table 66 211 QUANTITIES OF MACKEREL TAKEN WITH THE TRAWL, 1907-13 Table 67 212 PERCENTAGE OF HERRING CAUGHT BY FISHING BOATS POWERED BY SAIL, STEAM AND MOTOR Table 68 213 NUMBER OF MOTOR BOATS REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND Table 69 215 EMPLOYMENT OF MOTOR FISHING BOATS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1912 AND 1913. Table 70 227 ANNUAL EARNINGS OF AN ABERDEEN STEAM TRAWLER Table 71 233 THE LABOUR FORCE Table 72 234 NUMBERS OF MEN AND BOYS EMPLOYED ON REGISTERED FISHING BOATS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 73 235 NUMBERS OF MEN AND BOYS EMPLOYED ON REGISTERED FISHING BOATS IF OPERATING WITH THEIR USUAL CREWS, AT GRIMSBY, HULL AND ABERDEEN Table 74 236 YEAR AND PLACE OF BIRTH FOR HANDS CERTIFICATED THROUGHOUT BRITAIN Table 75 237 PLACE OF BIRTH OF SKIPPERS AND MATES CERTIFICATED FOR COMPETENCE AND SERVICE IN SELECTED YEARS. (i) BRIXHAM (ii) RAMSGATE (iii) LOWESTOFT (iv) GREAT YARMOUTH (v) HULL (vi) GRIMSBY Table 76 241 YEAR OF BIRTH FOR CERTIFICATED SKIPPERS AND HANDS IN SCOTLAND Table 77 243 NUMBER OF APPRENTICES ENROLLED AT SCARBOROUGH Table 78 245 NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS ACCORDING TO CREW SIZE (i) GRIMSBY (ii) HULL (iii)ABERDEEN (iv) FLEETWOOD (v) MILFORD (vi) BRIXHAM (vii) RYE Table 79 247 METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR TRAWLERMEN AT GREAT YARMOUTH Table 80 254 RATES OF PAY FIXED BY THE ARBITRATOR AT GRIMSBY IN 1901 Table 81 256 NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS ACCORDING TO CREW SIZE AT LOWESTOFT Table 82 257 PERCENTAGE OF MEN AND BOYS ENGAGED IN SCOTTISH TRAWLING VESSELS AND OTHER MODES OF SEA FISHING Table 83 258 NUMBER OF FISHING BOATS ACCORDING TO CREW SIZE AT PETERHEAD Table 84 263 NUMBER OF STEAM TRAWLERS AND OTHER STEAM FISHING VESSELS BELONGING TO THE STATES OF WESTERN EUROPE Table 85 265 NUMBER OF CERTIFICATED CREWMEN BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM Table 86 267 QUANTITIES AND VALUES OF WET FISH LANDED BY FOREIGN VESSELS FROM THE DEEP SEA FISHERIES WITH PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTALS FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM 10 Table 87 268 NUMBER OF MOTOR FISHING VESSELS BELONGING TO THE STATES OF WESTERN EUROPE Table 88 270 DISPOSAL OF FISHING VESSELS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FROM SELECTED PORTS (i) ABERDEEN (ii) BRIXHAM (iii)GRIMSBY (iv) HULL (v) LOWESTOFT (vi) RAMSGATE Table 89 272 BRITISH-BUILT STEAM VESSELS IN FOREIGN FISHING FLEETS Table 90 273 STEAM TRAWLERS CONSTRUCTED FOR FOREIGN STATES FROM WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ABERDEEN AND GREENOCK Table 91 285 THE STATE OF GRIMSBY FISHERIES Table 92 286 QUANTITY OF BRILL, COD, HADDDOCK, HAKE, HALIBUT, LING, PLAICE, SOLE AND TURBOT LANDED, 1891-1900, AT: (i) GRIMSBY, HULL AND BOSTON.