Pollack,codfish,and pollack fishing in Scarborough in the 1800's
From "A History of British Fishes" Written by William Yarrell, 1836
The Pollack - The Pollack is much less abundant on some parts of the coast than the Coalfish ; but, like that species, is an inhabitant of the seas all round our shores. Mr. Low, in his " Natural History of the Orkneys," says, " They are frequently caught close in with the shore, almost among the sea-ware, and in deep holes among the rocks. They seem to be a very frolicsome fish; and I have been several times fishing for them when they would keep a constant plashing in the water. They bite keenly, scarce allowing the hook to be in the water before one or other jumps at it. They are better eating than the Coalfish ; but I do not know whether they are ever dried or preserved otherwise, as the quantity caught is scarce worth curing." Hand-line fishing for Pollacks is called whiffing.
This fish is called Lythe in Scotland, as already quoted ; but whether this term is intended to refer to its supple, pliant activity, or is derived from lithos, a stone, from its living among rocks, I have not seen stated. Fine specimens of the Pollack are taken about the rocky coast of Scarborough, where they are called Leets.
The Pollack is caught at Hastings and Weymouth. Colonel Montagu says it is frequently taken in Devonshire, where it is bought by the inexperienced as Whiting. When only twelve or fourteen inches long, the flesh possesses a considerable portion of the pearly appearance and delicacy of that fish.
Mr. Couch says, " The Pollack is at all seasons one of our most common fishes, but it is not gregarious except in pursuit of prey ; and it rarely wanders far from its usual haunts, which are along the edges of rocks, where, with the head directed towards the coming tide, it is ready for any prey that approaches. The smaller ones, which occupy such a station covered with oreweed, have their colours very bright, and the belly of a saffron yellow; while on clean ground they are less brilliant. In summer evenings, they are often seen eager in pursuit of the Sandlaunce, frequently spring from their element, and are often taken by anglers from the rocks and piers. The Pollack spawns in winter near the land ; and the young abound near the edge of the tide in rocky ground at the beginning of summer."
CODFISH - The largest Codfish I have a record of weighed sixty pounds, was caught in the Bristol Channel, and produced five shillings : it was considered cheap there at one penny the pound. Pennant, however, states that a Codfish of seventy-eight pounds' weight was caught at Scarborough, and sold for one shilling.
TURBOT -On the coasts of Durham and Yorkshire, a considerable fishery for Turbot is carried on by the fishermen of Hartlepool and Scarborough with long lines, the mode of using which was described when speaking of the common Codfish. A large proportion of the Turbot produced in the English market is taken on or near the various sandbanks between the long line of our eastern shore and the coast of Holland. The writer of the article " Fisheries," in the edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica now in course of publication, says, " The only fishery, perhaps, which neither the Scotch nor the English follow up with the same success as the Dutch, is that of the Turbot; the finest of which are supposed to be taken upon the Flemish banks. The Turbot fishery begins about the end of March, when the Dutch fishermen assemble a few leagues to the south of Scheveling. As the warm weather approaches, the fish gradually advance to the northward, and during the months of April and May they are found in great shoals on the banks called the Broad Forties. Early in June they have proceeded to the banks which surround the small island of Heligoland, off the mouth of the Elbe, where the fishery continues to the middle of August, when it terminates for the year. The mode of taking Turbot is as follows :At the beginning of the season the trawl- net is used; which being drawn along the banks, brings up
OTHER ARTICLES
• Theakston's guide to the Scarborough fisheries 1866
• Thomas Hinderwell - history of Scarboroughs fisheries
• The history of the Scarborough fishing industry
• The fishermen and fisheries of Robin Hood's Bay in 1838
• Filey fishermen in 1862 - yawls and cobles
• 1000 years of fishing
• Whitbys early history - a fishing town
• The Harwood and Bullamore fishing family history in Scarborough
• Sailors graves on the Scarborough coastline.
• The 200 year history of scarboroughs RNLI
• Scarboroughs Lifeboat - the huge storms of October 28th 1880
• Thomas Crimlisk - First of the Crimlisks
• A common ancestry - The Filey Jenkinsons
• Scarborough fishermen and the U-Boats by Godfrey Arthur
• Trawler boat names - romantic shhips names
• Scarborough's harbour and the coal trade. Thomas Hinderwell
• Migrations of fishing families - Filey - Yarmouth and Ramsgate
• The history of Filey Lifeboats
• Charles Dickens account of Filey and Scarborough graveyards