Manufacture of Fishing Nets

1961 , Lowestoft (Suffolk)

Bob Wellings presents a short profile of the net manufacturing industry in Lowestoft.

At an unidentified company, with a centuries old connection with the net making industry, Wellings meets company manager Mr Wills, who describes the mechanical advances that have eased the laborious process of early net-makers. A large machine weaves herring nets, as a factory girl keeps watch over the whole process. Elsewhere, fine mesh nets are being manufactured, whilst a brand new, specially-designed machine weaves heavier nets for trawling and football nets. A group of factory outworkers, all women, undertake quality control checks and tie off the nets, whilst male riggers hang floats. In the rigging room, Wellings interviews Charlie, a former fisherman who now overseas the whole process as Rigging Foreman. As Mr Wills discusses the company's export trade - which sees 90% of trawler nets sent to Canada - Wellings signs off by noting that, despite the introduction of machinery, the final touch is still applied by hand, assuring that net-making remains a true craft.

Keywords

Export trade; Fishing nets; Manufacture

Manifestations

Manufacture of Fishing Nets

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