[Crab Fishing and Lifeboat]

The crab fishing industry and lifeboat services at Sheringham.

At dawn the crab-boats are launched from the beach at Sheringham. At sea, there are long shots of the boats. The crab pots are manhandled into the boats. Each pot is attached to a rope, or shank. There are twenty pots to each shank and these are marked at each end by a buoy and a flag. With the sun on the water, the catch is removed from the pot and then the pots are re-shot. On the way back to Sheringham, the crabs are measured by a member of the crew. The boats are hauled up the beach over portable runners by an electric winch. Children play in the sea beside the boat as this operation is carried out. The crab pots are carried up the beach by the fishermen. The crabs are packed into boxes ready for market. They are loaded onto a hand cart and taken off the promenade to a waiting van. Some of the boxes are labelled for Norfolk companies in Kings Lynn and Heacham, others are labelled for the Billingsgate fish market. These are sent by train to Sheringham Station. Some others are taken to local fishmongers. Finally, the rest are processed locally to be sold as crab paste. A display of West's crab paste is shown in a shop window. The following sequences show the maintenance work required to keep the fishing boats running. Maintenance is carried out on the boats themselves. The crab pots are repaired and new ones built. Some of the fishermen work on the promenade and the beach, others work in their gardens. A new crab-boat, 'Miss Britain', is pulled through the streets from Emery's boat builders and launched from the beach. Small children ride in the boat as it proceeds. On the promenade, one boy has a model of the boat. A fictitious sequence follows in which the Sheringham fishermen and life-boat crew simulate a launching of the Sheringham lifeboat Foresters' Centenary. The secretary receives a call and the crew rushes to the lifeboat. The lifeboat is launched to rescue a waterlogged crab boat. The lifeboat returns and is winched into the shed. The final sequence shows bait being prepared for the following morning's fishing.

Featured Buildings

Sheringham Station

Keywords

Crab fishing; Lifeboats

Intertitles

Work begins at dawn, when the fishermen bring their boats down to the water and put to sea, heading for their pots. Each shank of pots is marked with a buoy at each end. The pots, up to twenty on one shank, are pulled up one by one, the crabs removed, and after re-baiting are stored in the boat. On the way home the boat is cleaned out and a start is made to check the crabs for minimum size. On returning to the beach the boats are hauled up by an electric winch.The crabs are finally sorted and packed in boxes and baskets. These are dispatched inland or taken to local fishmongers. A proportion of the catch is processed and potted in Sheringham. Important items of work are the manufacture and repair of crab pots and other equipment and the maintenance of boats. An event now rare in Sheringham is the launching of a new crab-boat. Miss Britain, built by Mr. Emery, the only remaining boat builder, was launched in July 1955. When the lifeboat secretary is notified of a boat in distress, he decides in consultation with the coxswain what action should be taken. If the situation warrants the life-boat being launched a maroon is fired and the crew, mainly fishermen, set out to render what assistance they can. In the evening bait is cut and prospects are discussed for the following day.

Background Information

This film was shown locally in Sheringham at the end of July 1955 (reported in the Eastern Daily Press 1/8/55) and on other occasions. Its title ranges from that given to Crab Fishing At Sheringham.