County Down in 1837
Fishing
The fishery on the coast from Bangor to Carlingford bay is pursued with a good deal of industry, but hitherto without sufficient capital or skill.
The herring fishery commences in July, and is pursued throughout the autumn and beginning of winter.
The principal fishing ground lies off Lecale, at a distance of a quarter of a mile to two leagues from shore, in three to seventeen fathom water, and extends with little interruption from Newcastle on the south to the entrance to Strangford Loch upon the north.
The fish taken are herrings, mackarel, haddock, cod, ling, glassan, bream, pollock, gurnet, plaice, bait, and turbot. Besides this there are several other fishing grounds off the coasts of Mourne and Ards.
The following table exhibits the number of boats and men employed in the fishery in 1835 at each of the coast-guard stations as below :—
| Station |
Decked vessels |
Half-decked vessels |
Open sail boats |
Row boats |
No. of seamen |
No. |
Tons |
Men |
No. |
Tons |
Men |
No. |
Men |
No. |
Men |
| Cranfield |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
28 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
85 |
452 |
452 |
| Leestone |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
21 |
126 |
126 |
| Annalong |
5 |
126 |
30 |
3 |
-- |
18 |
-- |
-- |
36 |
216 |
264 |
| Newcastle |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
27 |
135 |
135 |
| St. John’s Point & Killough |
1 |
22 |
7 |
2 |
22 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
37 |
196 |
217 |
| Ardglass |
2 |
45 |
16 |
10 |
126 |
62 |
-- |
|
12 |
60 |
138 |
| Gun’s Island |
-- |
-- |
-- |
6 |
55 |
30 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
26 |
64 |
| Strangford |
-- |
-- |
-- |
16 |
158 |
80 |
10 |
40 |
18 |
72 |
192 |
| Cloghy |
2 |
35 |
** |
16 |
174 |
** |
1 |
** |
32 |
** |
175 |
| Ballyhalbert |
1 |
25 |
6 |
18 |
180 |
108 |
-- |
-- |
24 |
120 |
234 |
| Milisle |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
27 |
135 |
135 |
| Donaghadee |
-- |
-- |
-- |
3 |
30 |
15 |
-- |
-- |
29 |
87 |
102 |
| Groomsport |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
99 |
36 |
8 |
40 |
-- |
-- |
76 |
| Bangor |
2 |
35 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
8 |
| Holywood |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
| TOTALS |
13 |
288 |
67 |
83 |
872 |
363 |
23 |
92 |
358 |
1608 |
2305 |
**=no return
Upwards of 300 boats frequent Ardglass harbour during the fishing season. Of those about one-third are from England, one-third from the Isle of Man, and one-third from Arklow, Skerries, and other places on the Irish coast.
This concourse of fishermen causes a considerable trade in Ardglass. Three additional butchers have booths here for the sale of meat during the season.
The English and Man boats are larger and better found than the Irish. Their tackle and gear also are of a superior description; and although so many inhabitants of the coast appear by the above table to be engaged in the pursuit, it is a remarkable fact that neither at Newry, Downpatrick, nor Belfast, is there a sufficient supply of fish, and that the salt herrings consumed throughout the county are invariably of Scotch curing. There is ample occupation for five times the number of men at present engaged in the fishing off this coast.
|
