Cornish poet Bernard Moore.

Not content with a poem recalling a huge mullet catch, Bernard Moore published an entire collection of poems many with the sea and fishing as a theme. The book, Cornish Catches, can be read online courtesy of the American Library's Internet Archive. Not so many years ago it was not unheard of for youngsters at school to take the odd day off in the winter when the mackerel were thick in the Bay - as a young David Pascoe (skipper of the Little Pearl)was known to do when he should have been sat in his lessons at Mount's Bay School. A copy of the entire book, in pdf file format, can also be downloaded from the same site.

Five of his poems were set to music and are available with songhseets for download.

Sennen mullet men.

Big shots of mullet off Sennen have been taken using a beech seine for centuries.

Last week, after a shoal hung around off Gwenva beach for ages then suddenly swam across Whitsand Bay and sought shelter in Sennen harbour - that shelter became their undoing as the mullet men of Sennen shot into action immediately - a few hours work and over twelve tons were on their way to market - though it has to be said that not every time the net is shot do the fish become so obliging!

One occasion, recorded for posterity in words, recounts the time when a huge shoal of bass, hugely more expensive than grey mullet, were taken on Christmas Day, 1917 during the dark days of the First World War. The poem (below) captures the sense of excitement, relief and joy at making such a catch in what must have been very hard times:






This poem, is taken from a book called ' A Cornish Collection' published in 1933 by Bernard Moore........
who also wrote 'Cornish Corners'.......
it would be good to find a recording of some of the songs indicated in these notes from the flyleaf of the book.

Men in black or, Newlyn in charcoal at the Tolcarne Inn

Something to look out for in the future, make a note in the diary to visit the Tolcarne Inn and check out Nick Henshall's exhibition of charcoal drawings - made from close observation of the port.

Newlyn Charcoals

Tolcarne Inn, Newlyn
April 2010

Nick's creative talents do not stop at working on paper; he has built a number of wooden sailing vessels including his own classic yacht based on a pilot boat - for many the ultimate small sea boat - the best compromise between speed, safety, comfort and seakeeping.......

the Jessie & Zac is very much modelled on traditional lines......
seen here before her mast was installed.

Beamer congers.

Clear decks on the Manx Ranger......
time to weld the port side scallop dredge beam back together again on the Jacoba......
as the Admiral Gordon makes ready to land to an Ocean Fish lorry bound for Plymouth market....
both sides up for overhaul on the Sapphire......
on the market there's a lovely run of quality flats from the George Johannes......
and another small dollop of anchovies......
the Sapphire's reds look to be in top condition......
while a few beamer boxes of the congers looks like one or two wrecks were passed close by!.......
fuel for the next trip being pumped aboard, the price of which is hovering around $80 a barrel.

Fish 'n chips at Swanage

St Piran's day.

Click on the Cornish flag above to see a selection of images in celebration of St Piran's day.

The Cornish tin mining industry had numerous days to celebrate throughout the year - most of which seemed to involve the imbibing of huge amounts of alcohol - so much so that in the 19th century the phrase, 'drunk as a Perraner' was used to describe someone who appeared to have had more than they should. Today, St Piran's day is often celebrated with the use of the colours found in the St Pirans' flag of black and white - also identical to the Bretons', 'gwen ar dhu'. Gold in the images represents the wealth and prosperity that tin brought to Cornwall - at one time the area around Camborne and Redruth was home to more millionaires per square mile than any other place in the world!

Anchovy taster

Work in the new dawn.......
as Dennis Pascoe lands a handful of anchovies from the Bay......
a double dose of patriotism on the flag pole.