Drifting

1930s , Great Yarmouth (Norfolk)

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The voyage and duties of the crew of the "Silver Dawn" drifter

The opening titles are shot over a pile of herring. The film starts with a map showing the main fishing ports used by drifters. These appear one by one, beginning with Lowestoft and then running through the Scottish ports, Stornaway, Lerwick, Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Aberdeen, before concluding with North Shields and Great Yarmouth. The film was shot aboard the Yarmouth boat, YH 112, `Silver Dawn', that was moored at North Shields. The drifter is in the crowded harbour. She is unloaded and repairs are carried out on deck. `Silver Dawn' leaves the harbour, along with other boats from Yarmouth and Lowestoft, and heads for the fishing ground. There is a shot of the skipper in the cabin and of other drifters filmed from the boat. The men work on board. The log-line is set. Once at the fishing grounds the crew cast the nets. A diagram shows how these settle in the sea. There are about 1 1/2 miles of net. From 8.30pm, the crew can relax and sleep. A tattooed crewman sleeps in his bunk. At 1am, hauling starts. The men are on deck in oilskins, hauling gin the nets. This is shown by diagram also. The men shake the fish out of the net. The `Silver Dawn' heads for harbour and the catch is unloaded. There are high-angle shots of the unloading. Gulls feed on the dropped fish.

Keywords

Drifters; herring fishing

Intertitles

The main ports used by drifters. Out to sea in the afternoon. At the fishing grounds. Hauling starts at 1 am and lasts for about five hours. Unloading for early market.

Other Places

North Shields

Manifestations

Drifting

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