Port Erin Fishing Village to Holiday Resort
Date(s): mid 20th century
Creator(s): Clague, Alec
Scope & Content: Typescript text drawn from knowledge of the late T F Cregeen, Alf Maddrell, John E Crebbin and John Keggin; also the still living John Gawne.
Clague touches briefly on assorted topics, often citing books or newspapers for his information. He mentions Port Erin breakwater, Mr Milner and Milner's Tower, cod fishing from open boats, mending nets at home or in 'the warehouse' (present day Bay Hotel), setting off for the Kinsale fishing grounds with boats away from March until about June (sent off with tea parties and other means of bidding the men God speed in their fishing), fishing boats sailing to Lerwick in the Shetlands and to Howth, north of Dublin and fishing boats being built in Port Erin (as well as Port St Mary) - Freddie Cregeen named two (Lottie Ratcliffe and Dancing Wave) and John Gawne two more (Nickey CT110 and CT92 The Nelson).
Regarding crab and lobster fishing Clague quotes Freddie Cregeen, "Port Erin has for generations been noted for crab and lobster fishing (my grandfather went to it). In my younger days they only went crab and lobster fishing in the Spring and Summer and they only used creels to catch them. Now they fish them all the year and use creels for crabs and cages for lobsters".
Clauge touches on mining and farming briefly.
Language: English
Extent: 3 pages (2 sheets)
Item name: text of lecture
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: MS 15358
Record class: Private
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