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Autumn 1997 FOR THOSE IN PERIL by ALEC GILL Opening Questions NAME: ________________DATE: __________ What attracted you to this course? What experience / knowledge have you of fishing community / industry life? Were you born in a fishing port / community? Which one: ____________and when: _____________ Have you conducted any research into Britain's fishing heritage? Are you formally qualified on this subject in any way? What, for you, is this topic all about? Do you have any special areas of interest you wish to pursue during the course? What benefits do you expect from this course? Will it help you in the future? What do you expect from me as your tutor? Are you a lifelong learner? If so, how? ARCTIC TRAWLING What were the main dangers which confronted fishermen at sea? Why did the crews risk their lives in the world's most perilous work? List the main sea areas around the British coast (Dogger...)? Which were the main fishing grounds trawled by British vessels? List the different methods of catching fish at sea? Which music was popular amongst the fishermen in the 1950s? What was the shipboard hierarchy on a typical 1950s trawler? Name the main parts of the trawl gear? List the main types of fish caught by British trawlers? Identify the fishing ports with the following registrations: A. B. DO FD. GY. LL. LN. LO. N. P. PZ. RE. RX. SN. WA. FISHING COMMUNITY LIFE "Community Spirit" is a phrase often ascribed to fishing life - what images does it conjure up for you? State what part the women played in: (a) the fishing community and (b) the fishing industry? What religious beliefs do you associate with fishing families? What problems beset a widow who recently lost her husband at sea? What part did the local corner shops play in a typical community? How many social activities were run by the places of worship in the olden days (bands, clubs...)? Do you know of any religious ceremonies which were unique to the fishing community and/or industry? How does life in a fishing community compare with that of a mining village? Is the image of a drunken brawling fisherman an unfair one? TABOO-RIDDEN CULTURE Why is it that "of all seafarers there are none more superstitious than fishermen"? How were the fishing families affected by superstition at home? "Birth, Marriage and Death" are three critical times on the journey through life - but what taboos did each of these stages attract? Birth: Marriage: Death: What animals feature strongly in the realm of superstition? Women in the fishing community were the centre of many restrictive taboos and rituals - especially on sailing day. Which of these can you list? Why are people so wary about Friday the Thirteenth? TRAWLERS at WAR WWI: An admiral declared, "The Royal Navy saved Britain; but the fishermen saved the Royal Navy". WWII: Sir Winston Churchill "The Royal Naval Patrol Service was a navy within the Navy". = = = = = = = = Why was the Admiralty keen to requisition British trawlers and enlist their crews for front-line action? What duties did the fishing boats perform during war time? Where was the HQ of the Royal Naval Patrol Service (RNPS)? What was the general attitude of the Admiralty and RN officers toward fishermen and the role of the RNPS? What do the following initials mean: RNR RNVR How were trawlers used during the Cold War period by both sides (East and West)? Who of the trawler crew was best placed to conduct any spying work? Do you have any anecdotes? FISH DOCK WORK What are the workers called who land the fish from trawlers - names vary around the country? How was the fish sold on the market? What ancillary industries / trades were kept busy thanks to the prosperity of the fishing industry? Who were the big fishing / trawler owning firms in your homeport? What sort of reputation did the trawler owners have in the eyes of many crewmembers? Did 'backhanders' oil the wheels of the fishing industry? PAST COD WARS and FUTURE PROSPECTS? Why did the UK lose the Cod Wars against such a little island state like Iceland? What has happened to the British fishing industry since the loss of the Cod Wars? I am an historian with an emphasis upon pre-WWII events - so please help me out on this one? Was Britain's move into the European Union a disaster for its fishing industry? Will the British fishing industry become part of its booming heritage industry? What does the past fishing heritage tell us about the future prospects of the industry? INTRO: Hull is merely the sounding board against which to compare and contrast the way fishing was conducted in other British ports. It is the role of the students to highlight their own background and fishing experience / interests. |
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