For The Love of Fish

On a cold wet morning, perched on a river bank, catching very few fish, my mind began to wander... How did those men and women cope in the old days of trawling? My late father-in-law put to sea on several Grimsby based trawlers from the 1950's until the late 70's...

Before daybreak, in ports around Britain, men toiled tirelessly to load provisions, including ice and food. Boxes were man-handled or wheeled on-board using porter trolleys. Kegs of ale and crates of rum—the most precious of cargoes—would be laboriously rolled along the gang-plank.

Quaysides would be lined with well-wishers, families, and friends. Some of whom would never see their fathers, sons, uncles, grandfathers, or brothers, again.

After only three days of vacation, crews would return to their ships ahead of a three weeks voyage of Icelandic, Norwegian, or North Russian fishing grounds, some of the world's most dangerous and icy waters. Force 9 storms were common place. Winds of up to 140mph and waves the height of houses compelled skippers to bind themselves to handrails on the bridge. Crews could be tossed from their bunks if not fastened in. Boats would sail up the waves and then down into the trough repeatedly for several days, a frightening experience for many uninitiated sailors. As the stern and propellers rose from the sea, the engines raced to their highest revs, causing ships to shake, fiercely. These waves were quite capable of sinking any ship. Sailing through dense fog at night among several other trawlers, needless to say, was a hazard in itself. Due to 'the cod wars' of the late 1950's which lasted until the late 70's, crews were prepared to fish in any circumstances. A good catch meant good earnings. Weather permitting, crews worked 16 hour shifts. A few of the many tasks carried out each day included mending nets, gutting fish on open decks and boiling cod livers, the stench of which could make even hardened sailors sick.

Sadly, many trawlers were sunk in the course of their work, resulting in the loss of entire crews.

Up until the late 1970's, Grimsby, Lincolnshire remained the UK's largest cod yielder. Thousands of tons of cod were harvested each year by such trawlers as the 'FV Laforey (GY-85.) The Laforey ran aground on 07/02/1954 and sank off the coast of Norway in heavy seas and driving snow with the loss of 20, including skipper, William Mogg. The wreckage lay undiscovered until Norwegian divers located the vessel in 2010. The ship's bell was later salvaged and returned to its hometown. Currently situated in Grimsby's fisherman's chapel, it serves as a permanent memorial to the lost crew.