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WITH THANKS TO JOHN HARMAN (SIDNEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA) AND TONY STROUD (AUSTRALIA) |
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Photos contributed to the Simply Whitstable
Chat Column by the site's regular visitors have inspired me to write
a few lines on the sprat fishing that we took part in. The early method of 'stow fishing'
for sprats carried well on into the 20th century. This was done
from a sailing smack referred to as a 'stow boat'. Because of
the heavy gear they carried and the practice of "fishing over the
bow", they were built fuller forward. This method involved
anchoring in the chosen area and, with the net suspended below the
boat, waiting for the fish to come their way. (At least, that is a
simplified explanation). After the war (in the late 40s) the Leggat Bros
came to Whitstable - bringing with them the new technology of 'pair
fishing'. This method was made possible by boats being
motorised. It also needed radios for the boats to contact each other and
echo sounders to locate the fish schools and indicate their depth. The procedure required a group of boats to work
together. Once in the general fishing area, the vessels would
spread out with their echo sounders operating. The first to locate
a good school of sprats would contact the other boats who would then
come into that area. They then worked in pairs. Each pair would approach from behind the school
with a net towed between them at the required depth. In just a
matter of minutes, the long tubular net would be full with enough
fish to fill the hold of one boat. (This, too, is a simplified
description). After the initial success at sprat fishing, more
boats were custom built for the purpose and a cannery was built beyond
the East Quay. Tony's first photo above shows sprat boats lining the
East Quay (see the section annotated "B"). At that time, that quay became a hive of activity at unloading time... with fish boxes piled high. This can be seen in another of Tony Stroud's photo below....
Down in the holds of the boats, the younger members of the crew would stand up to their waist in sprats and fill the large buckets that were hauled to the top. On the quay itself, retired fishermen would help with the salting and filling of boxes. The photo below was taken by Arthur Boulting in the
snow of January 1954.....
The Mon Reve
being prepared for Sprat Fishing
It was taken while I was working with my brother George... just before I came to Canada. I am pictured on the left and George on the right. We were preparing George's vessel, "Mon Reve, to go spratting with the Leggats. In particular, we were making up extra "fenders" (ie old tyres) to protect the vessel at that moment when boats came together at sea. This occurred when the sprats were brought aboard. We were due to "pair up" with Olly
Wiseman and his boat. He was a friend of the Leggats and came from
Canvey with them. The Mon Reve did not have the electronic equipment
that they had (ie radio and depth sounder). As a result, we followed
close behind and received hand signals. After the decline of spratting and when the harbour
had been taken over from British Rail by the local Council, the
East Quay was cleared and a large Daniels Bros warehouse was built in
readiness for larger shipping.
John Harman
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