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Spring 1998 ARCTIC TRAWLING by Dr.ALEC GILL PLAN: INTRODUCTION: WELCOME - Many types of mariners sail the Seven Seas. The toughest breed of all are the fishermen of the world. And within their group, the most perilous work is carried out by the Arctic trawlermen. Hull was the only port to put all its eggs in the deep-sea basket. They are "Yorkies". DANGERS: Perilous work / Battle against the elements / Maritime risks = collisions, explosions. Fatigue. PLAY: Midnight sun / Relaxing = Music, Fun, Gambling, Drink, Animals, Taboos? ROUTINE: 21-day trip / Hierarchy = Skipper, Cook, Sparks, Engineers, Deckhands (nets, haul, gut), Deckie-learners / Pay. PIONEERS: History = Trawling: 1843 Devon/Brixham smacks; 1883 Steam; Box fleet system (wolf pack); Single-boaters (lone hunters); Freezers - bigger & better / Owners / Fishing Grounds - further afield / Iceland (White & Black Knights) / Cod Wars: Jolly Roger v. Odin/Thor cutting gear. HOMEWARD BOUND: 'Go-shore' suits TRAILER: Whet appetite for future talks = Fish Dock / Lost Trawlers / War Trawlers / 1904 / Women / Heydays. PLEASURE TRIP: Young boys socialized into being next generation of trawlermen... There was not only the dangers of an extreme occupation, but also the emotional strains upon the fishing families at home in their close-knit community. TABOOS at SEA CREW: SEA BAGS - Once something placed inside, it must not be removed = toys in Casey Family. NEVER LOOK BACK = Lot's wife; Never turn back; skipper at door; cancelled orders. TURNING BACK crewman / ship = ill omen. MONEY SCRAMBLE - departing for sea / tossed coins into water. NO WOMEN at SEA - Wife ill. Doctor's orders 'Don't leave her' So skipper took her to sea. She felt sorry for deckhands and so handed them tots of whisky from the ship's bond. It was a good trip. TEA - mugs, tea-pots never emptied. TINS - never open upside down, ship will turn over. TATTOOS - protection from evil spirits and also identifying the body if drowned at sea. EAR-RINGS - gold for burial in foreign lands CHARMS - gemstones, lucky tokens. CLOTHES - never wear green. KNIFE / SCISSORS - find Kingston Peridot (H.591) story. TOUCH IRON - for luck at sea (not wood). SHIP: LAUNCH of SHIP - champagne, never on Friday 13th. SHIP as 'She' - see later on this webpage. SHIP'S BELL - (or ringing glass too) = ship doomed or sailor drowned. HATCH COVER UPSIDE DOWN - brush left over hatch = poor catch. SHIP'S MAST - St.Elmo's Fire. STARBOARD SIDE: practical reasons / Jesus / Pagans avoid left. NEVER EAT WEARING A HAT. XMAS TALES - White Whiskered Bastard = bad luck. TABOO WORDS = Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Knife, Church, Clergy, Egg, Salt, etc. TRAWLER NAME: Cloughton Wyke / Roderigo / Arctic Corsair / Northella - do not change name otherwise will change luck. Unlucky to change name of vessel (but many owners did in Hull). 'S' in ships name unlucky or to end with an 'E'. NICKNAMES - taboo links: Families: 'Sweat' Haines / 'Shimmey' Andrews / 'Skadge' Hardy / Williams brothers 'S' in name Skippers: Alamein Eddie, The Lash, Russian Alec, Snowy Worthington, Suicide Sid... Crews: Old Man, Sparks, Pan Artist, Brats... Places: Rayners / Millers / WDA / Fishing grounds: Mother Bailey's Bank, The Iron Foundry, Bumping Grounds, The Pond... Fish: Dux = haddock; Green = cod; Black = coley; Tommies = catfish; Whips = blue ling; Soldiers = bergylt; Table-toppers = huge plaice. NEVER DIVULGE - keep cards close to chest WHISTLING AT SEA WEATHERLORE - poetry rhymes When the birds fly low; The winds will blow. Red sky at night... CONCLUSION: DEATH at SEA: Illness / Suicide / Body on belly / buried at sea / Dislike body aboard vessel / Thornella / Names of dead are taboo. MANY DID NOT LEARN TO SWIM - Why? - Fatalism. WHY IS A SHIP CALLED 'SHE'? by TOM MILLER - Cunard Manager (aboard the 'Sylvania' at Montreal, Canada) She's all decked out and pretty well stacked.
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