Back to Brixham trawlers with David Hall-Green
PLETTENBERG BAY - You can't keep a good seafarer, anchorman, fisherman, thespian and adventurer down for long.
Well-known Plett resident and the former face of TV in South Africa, David HallGreen, will be back at the Van Plettenberg Historical Society (VPHS) on 16 May to, again, entertain, with the spotlight this time falling on trawlers.
Hall-Green, a former committee member of the VPHS and co-founder of the Bitou Amateur Dramatic Society (Bats), will recall his experiences 60 years ago as a trawlerman working out of the English fishing port of Brixham in Devon on one of the famous Brixham trawlers.
Four years ago there were still only two such trawlers active out of Brixham harbour.
As a young man in his twenties, HallGreen worked on the trawler 'Leon Jeannine'.
Trawling in the spotlight
"Our wonderful location in Plett makes the sea and all that goes on in it very dear to our hearts," the VPHS wrote to its members recently.
In its preamble to Hall-Green's presentation, the VPHS highlighted the fact that there is much talk these days about fish stocks, seals and great white sharks, and feeding frenzies when “bait balls” make their way through our waters pursued by fish, dolphins and birds.
"We all remember watching boats on the horizon - concerned they were foreign trawlers overfishing in our waters. More recently, an ever-increasing number of chokka [Cape Hope squid] boats light up our bay at night during the strictly controlled chokka fishing season and lead to much discussion," the VPHS reminded its members.
"In days gone by our own fishing boats would land on Central Beach and attract great interest. One could buy fish straight off the boats."
Brixham trawlers
The modern fishing trawler was developed in Brixham in the 19th century. The Brixham trawler was sleek with a tall gaff rig, which gave the vessel sufficient speed to make long-distance trips out into the fishing grounds around the English coast. They were also sufficiently robust to be able to tow large trawls in deep water. The great trawling fleet that built up in Brixham earned the village the title 'the Mother of Deep-Sea Fisheries'. The revolutionary design made large-scale trawling in the ocean possible for the first time.
The elegant Brixham trawler spread across the world, influencing fishing fleets everywhere. By the end of the 19th century there were over 3 000 fishing trawlers in Britain alone. They were sold to fishermen throughout Europe and beyond.
Hall-Green will describe how the method of fishing that he was involved in, bottom trawling, remained in use for 200 years.
"This was very damaging to marine life. Everything was scooped up indiscriminately off the ocean floor and much of the catch was simply discarded," the VPHS said. "Thankfully, with the use of modern equipment, and a greater awareness of environmental impacts the trawling industry has changed."
The talk will take place at Formosa Garden Village on Thursday 16 May, at 17:30 for 18:00. Tickets are available via Quicket or from Barneys Kiosk at Market Square.