Sowenna through the gaps

Sowenna makes her way through the gaps and heads for Penzance Dock....

these pots have seen better days......

there's some serious net making over on the new Quay....

as Roger binds over some re-enforcement on the fishing line......

when an ever-generous Edwin turns up with a fresh brew.....

Dave Rodda makes the final incisions across the stern section of the JTS.......

and cleaves the entire section in two.....

but not before revealing the naked pate of his workmate....

it's that time of year again as the fleet gets ready for the summer season, busy scrubbing the waterline is Mr Treloar, skipper of the Dignity from St Ives.

Iceberg in the dock

Home for the Easter break, the Crystal Sea......
and Brixham's, BM10 Emilia M Emiel.....both landing their fish away from Newlyn...
This sea-defense for the fishermen's memorial statue must have cost! Many people think that 'Tom' should have been given a home down on the old quay - would have saved all this work that's for sure!
The Scillonian ferry boat to the Isles of Scilly has just started her summer season's trips, though this year, with Easter being rather early, the passengers are well wrapped in winter-woolies it seems......
Plymouth's, PH330 Admiral Gordon landing to the back of a waiting lorry....
from Iceberg Ltd in Penzance Dock....
astern of her is the Hatherleigh, now out of the dry dock. The Penzance Dry Dock Company is looking for more work with no vessels currently in the dry dock.....
looks like some deck seating is under construction on the Hatherleigh's deck...
in Newlyn, PZ100, the Elizabeth N waits for the Iceberg wagon to send her fish away. Newlyn fish market currently cannot provide the flexible landing and cold storage arrangements that, say, Plymouth can, one reason to encourage boats to land away from the port.


More historic documents that chart the background to the current situation with vessels choosing to land elsewhere:

Here are more documents from the early 1980s that show how fishermen, represented by the old Newlyn & District Fishermen's Association, actively sought support from the harbour that it would address the shortcomings of the market operations and the fish auction. The first, a letter sent to the harbour commissioners cited 10 suggestions that focussed on the means to improve the quality of fish landed to the auction through improved conditions and handling procedures. Despite being acknowledged in an official response from the Commissioners, many of the suggested improvements have yet to be adopted today.

This is a transcript of the letter outlining the 10 suggested improvements - the letter also refers to a fish reporting system - this was set up with assistance of the manager at Lands End Radio which handled all ship-to-shore radio traffic at the time. In the end it was not adopted as a service by the market.
A letter to the manger at Lands End radio confirming how the fish reporting system would work after discussions with fishermen and the Fish Merchant's Association...


Minutes from the Fish Merchants Association include discussion of the 10 suggested improvements to the market... and the Commissioners response. Many of today's skippers and boat owners, especially those who choose to land away, can draw little comfort from the historic lack of responsiveness to market forces so far evident in the market operations - when was this? - 1984.
Here is the membership list of Newlyn & District Fishermen's Association in 1977. Changing circumstances in the industry, driven by the introduction of quotas, saw the association eventually superceded by the CFPO. Both, were founded by the two champions of the Cornish fishing industry at the time, George and Daphny Lawry who devoted much of their time to help fight political issues of the day which began with the negotiations around the much-hated Common Fisheries Policy and the UK's accession to Europe.

Lamorna walk day

Dave 'the torch' Rhodda trims a hull section from the JTS....
with some deft gas-axe work.......
she now resembles a fish-bone fillet on the slip......
the gas-axe is also busy aboard the Lisa Jazqueline......
Traditionally, on Good Friday, residents of Penzance and Newlyn take part in a walk to Lamorna via the cliff path. In a break from tradition, the walk today was to Logan's Rock at Treen. In the summer, the route down to the Rock passes through what a six foot high maize field.....
spotted on this occasion, the 'Beast of the Rock' - well, a wild mink it seems!
The route back to the Logan Rock Inn was via Penberth Cove, where a handful of inshore punts still work. In the background the old windlass can be seen once used to pull the boats up the slipway.

Indian rope trick

Aboard the Sapphire, passing the gas-axe up the mast in a stunt reminiscent of the old Indian rope trick..... as the pace quickens aboard the Lisa Jacqueline, new paint meets the cutting-torch...
as the chipping hammers leave a carpet of old paint and rust on the quayside...some final cuts on the Ripple's masts....

along with a lick of tar...if you don't fancy a trip to Tom's Place in Chelsea for your fish supper, how about Newlyn's one and only chippie courtesy of fifth generation, David Jewell

So keen, they're running to buy fish!

Fish of the moment, the once humble gurnard is getting plenty of national newspaper column inches these days thanks to top chefs - and not before time too, a highly underrated fish!
the Ajax put ahsore a shot of ling this morning, not so often seen these days, back in the 60s & 70s Newlyn played host to a fleet of long-lining boats that chased the ling....
also in the Ajax's catch, 95 kilos of roe - you can tell what time of year we are in from them.....
Ocean Fish sell fresh and frozen fish apparently.....
another dramatic entrance through the curtains.....




The sardine boys were out till past midnight last night, their insulated tubs wait for collection by FalFish transport....
the buyers were so keen this morning on a market full of fish that some were seen running from one end to the other just to get in on the bidding action....
a full western end of the auction hall....
and some careful work with a small knife, what is she doing?
young Sam from CEFAS has just pulled an otolith from a pristine megrim sole - check out their invaluable contribution to the fishing industry....
king of the gurnard family, one of two tub gurnards up for auction....
the JTS is now being cut into sections....
and even has a drainage hole cut by
Clive down in her engine room bilges, no sign of Pendeen's master gas-axe man Dave Rhodda, must have slept in this morning!
all that's left of the JTS in one piece, the stern section....
not the only set of bare ribs in town it seems.