Interview with Norman Sansbury from Port Erin about his time in the fishing industry
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Date(s): 2 February 1997
Creator(s): Port Erin Marine Laboratory
Scope & Content: Norman Sansbury talks to Matthew Slate about the fishing industry in the Isle of Man. Norman talks about when he started working in 1953 on a Port Erin boat fishing for scallops; change from rope to wire-winches on the boats; first factories opening in the Isle of Man in 1960 to clean the scallops and bigger boats arriving to fish in deeper water; getting his own boat in 1961; dredgers connecting onto the bar so more dredgers could work from one boat; engines used to power the winches.
Norman describes fishing for herring, prawn fishing and queenies; his one of the last Manx boats to use drift nets for herring; Dutch coming to the Isle of Man to buy herring; introduction of the fishing quota; whelk fishing, He describes starting fishing in his school holidays; how technique for scallop fishing hasn't changed; scallop boats operating out of Port Erin; effect of bad weather in Port Erin; increase in queenies.
He remembers the picture house and the hotels in Port Erin; tourist attraction of herrings barrelled on the breakwater in Port St Mary; fishing boats gone from Port Erin; trawler race event in Port St Mary; friendly terms between fishermen; fishing superstitions; seasickness when fishing; his sons. Interviewer ends with a few words about himself and his visit to Bradda Head.
Administration / Biographical History: Recent changes in the Manx fishing industry, an oral history project by Matthew P. Slate and Laura Copeland of the Port Erin Marine Laboratory
Language: English
Extent: 42 min. 34 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2019-0015/11
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH