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1.10.1918 fishermen

Devon Sea Fisheries
Bideford & Clovelly Fishermen Voice Grievances
The report of the Fishery Officer, Mr Thos. Brehont, of Dartmouth, of the Devon Sea Fisheries for the quarter ending 2 October 1918, deals with his visits to the principal fishing ports in the district, including the North Devon ports.
At Clovelly the Fishery Officer states he received a serious complaint from the trawlers there, who stated that at various times a considerable amount of steamers anchored in their inshore trawling grounds, and whilst at anchor they deposited a considerable quantity of ashes and clinkers, which they caught in their trawls, and was very detrimental to their fishing.
At Bideford he received a complaint from the fisherman that vessels on patrol work in the Bristol Channel frequently came to the inshore grounds and used trawls of a small mesh and with steam power. At Ilfracombe and Combe Martin the advantages of the motor for trawling purposes were being recognised, and he saw signs of a considerable development in that direction at these places. There had been three prosecutions during the quarter for illegal trawling. One case was dismissed, and in two other cases the defendants were convicted, and fines were imposed in each case, in one case the defendant was fined £2, and in the other £20.
Lobsters during the early part of the quarter had been plentiful, but crabs were scarce.


Gazette article dated 1 October 1918

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