Project FisHistory

'The town is wall'd and moated round, except where it joins to the castle or the sea. The castle is of a vast extent, and stands on a lofty promontory, which runs far back into the sea. There are computed to be upwards of two hundred sail of ships belonging to this place, emplloy'd in different branches of trade; the fishery upon this coast being very considerable; particularly the herring, turbet, ling, cod-fish, haddock, fluke, whiting, mackrel, and lobsters, great quantities of which are sent every season to London'

The book is really interesting! From my history of nature perspective there's an account of the fishes caught at Scarborough 🎣, the herrings of Yarmouth ⛵(@projectfishistory.bsky.social), and a fun description of the lions of the Tower of London 🦁 (who were sent by the Emperor of Morocco of course)!

“Big Mackerel Catch at Rhos” Postcard https://www.rhosfynach.co.uk/history.htm

Images of wood #fishweir wicker fence 2 meter tall on the shore #RhosonSea #ConwyCounty Borough, #Wales. Historical sources indicted used for seasonal fisheries for herring and mackerel late 19th century.
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#maritimeheritage #oceandecadeheritage
#coastalhistory

It was great to present about our @projectfishistory.bsky.social research at #ICESASC25 and an honour to be on the shortlist for the best presentation! What a great week! @sosbangor.bsky.social @icesmarine.bsky.social

We're using a very wide range of sources to patch together maps of where and when herring used to spawn.

Great talk on using historical sources to map herring spawning grounds by @georginahunt.bsky.social for @projectfishistory.bsky.social.

Guess where we’ve been this week! Hint: you might see a dolphin or two here 🐬 #destinationx #huntforherring #fishfriday

Where are we today?📍Hint: it’s chucking it down! #herring #destinationx 🐟

We'll be visiting ports in Mid-South Wales e.g., Fishguard and Aberystwyth next week (2nd-4th September). If you're from the area and know anything about the Irish Sea herring fishery (past or present), or know someone who does, please get in touch here or at fishistory@bangor.ac.uk🐟

Beautiful scientific illustration in a Government fisheries report, 1884

-Electric ray caught off Scotland
-Herring measurements

@projectfishistory.bsky.social

On it!

Screenshot of newspaper article from 14/02/1828 in the Manks advertiser. "The failure of the herring fishery, and the great reduction in the value of agricultural produce, has affected every class in such a degree as to have reduced the island to almost a state of bankruptcy."

Screenshot of newspaper article from 24/04/1827 in the Manks sun. "There was never perhaps, a more trying season for the poor, than that which the last winter presented, the severity of which yet exists and will continue till Divine Providence supplies the herring and the potatoe"

Screenshot of newspaper article from 28/10/1826 in the Manks rising sun. "Distress in the isle of man- (Extract of a letter to a friend in Bath)- Douglas Sept 24- Our poor are in the most wretched state from the failure of the potatoe crops, and the utter unproductiveness of the herring fishery. Your friend Hughes is exerting himself, and, I trust will succeed in the laudable attempt he is making to rouse the gentry to ameliorate the miserable condition of the poor creatures who are at this moment suffering from disease and starvation. One poor woman nearly 80, he found yesterday on a bed of chips, without any covering but au old cloak, and the tiles actually commencing their work of destruction, for she was too feeble even to defend herself against so simple an enemy. .Another lie saw in a corner, with 4 naked children, without food. In short, be brings such accounts, as would open the hand of a miser, and draw the tear of compassion from the most harden'd heart. Soup is daily supplied to the poor ; but, alas ! these who have it in their power lo give are so few in this island compared with the vast numbers who are suffering the most absolute want, and the most abject misery, that without some pecuniary aid to assist us, our scanty supplies must soon cease."

HERRING & POTATOES 🐟🥔

Herrings and potatoes played a vital role in the annual prosperity of coastal communities such as the Isle of Man. In the 1800's unproductive fishing seasons and harvests left the poorest with no source of food and income.

black and white illustration of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata. Dorsal view. common name on page is the old British torpedo

balck and white ilustration of the smooth-hound Mustelus mustelus

Happy #SharkAndRayAwarenessDay 🦈 To celebrate these important ocean dwellers we've selected two illustrations from William Yarrell's 'History of British Fishes', Third Edition, 1859.

We have Torpedo marmorata, an electric ray and the smooth-hound, Mustelus mustelus

Passage from a book reads Herring- At Moelfre, the fishery was not good until December, when very good catches were made. At Benllach, large catches were also made in December. In Holyhead, the results were not up to those of last year. Herring have been plentiful at Nevin and Porthdinllaen, and in Tremadoc Bay. The value in this part of the District was £380, an increase of £211 over the corresponding period of the previous year. The herring were nearly all "shotten", but a good price was obtained for them. On the south side of Cardigan Bay, the herring season has last year been a failure.

Passage from a book reads Herring - In Cardigan and Tremadoc Bays the herring season has been a total failure. When the Committee has more funds at its disposal an investigation should be conducted into the causes of the fluctuation of the herring fisheries. In Tremadoc Bay the fishermen are of opinion that large shoals of herring were in the Bay when the weather was too wild to allow of fishing. On the North Wales coast some very good catches were made at Holyhead, and at Moelfre larger catches were made than in 1909.

Bookshelf containing Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee annual reports from early 1900s.

Map of Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee zoomed in on the Llyn peninsula.

Thanks to NWIFCA, we've gotten our hands on some fascinating early 1900s reports from the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee 📚These reports include notes on the timing and success of the herring fishery, the condition of herring, and a district map revealing historic herring grounds!

Had a great trip to NW England last week! One highlight was our visit to Fleetwood Maritime Museum ⚓⛵ where staff and volunteers picked out a few hidden gems for us — including Close’s 1904 fishing chart of the Irish Sea, marking historic herring fishing grounds! 🗺️

Great to be in the @britishlibrary.bsky.social earlier this week chasing sources on herring 🐟 for @projectfishistory.bsky.social @sosbangor.bsky.social

Thanks @leafyhistory.bsky.social for the cross-disciplinary training in using this incredible resource! @ukri.org

Newspaper archives for marine biology research

Amongst crossword puzzles & sports news are fragments of evidence we can piece together to understand change b4 scientific surveys started

Species, date, location, size-all data points for analysis

In this case, on marine megafauna we have lost

Fish folk - any idea what glassen is the old name for?

@projectfishistory.bsky.social @fishtwitcher.bsky.social @greenleejw.bsky.social

Herring Knowledge Wanted! Bangor University FisHistory Project is investigating the history of the Irish Sea herring fishery so if you know anything about herring read more at www.solwayfirthpartnership.c...

Online resources are great, but sometimes it is nice to be in an actual library looking at actual books for research

Marine biology using historical sources @projectfishistory.bsky.social
@sosbangor.bsky.social
@archpbu.bsky.social
@ystadaucymru.bsky.social @leafyhistory.bsky.social

We’re visiting NW England next week (23–27 June) to talk to locals from historic herring ports 🐟 If you’re from the area and know anything about the Irish Sea herring fishery (past or present), or know someone who does, please get in touch here or at fishistory@bangor.ac.uk

That's great, thanks Daryll!!!

Last week, we visited the Amgueddfa Forwrol Llyn Maritime Museum, which has an excellent exhibition on Nefyn herring 🐟, women of the sea 🙋‍♀️, and artefacts from other local fisheries 🦞. It’s a must-see if you’re in the area!

Historical map of Welsh fisheries

The earliest printed map specifically of Wales was Humphrey Llwyd’s 1573 Cambriae typus 🗺️

It contains an intriguing reference to fisheries in Cardigan Bay

“Hic halecum captura” – Here is the catch 🐟

For @projectfishistory.bsky.social we are using archives to help identify herring spawning habitat overlooked by modern surveys

" @icesmarine.bsky.social advises that no activities on spawning habitats should be allowed"

Depends on knowing the location of past/present/possible future spawning habitat-what @projectfishistory.bsky.social @sosbangor.bsky.social hopes to achieve

@ukri.org @oceanspast.bsky.social

Text from a page in a book. St. Stephen's Day is distinguished here by a very strange custom: the hunting of the wren. Numbers assemble, by day break in the morning, with long sticks, with which they beat the hedges and bushes, till they start one of those smart, little birds from its evening re-treat. They they pursue it, with great shoutings, from bush to bush, till the little creature is so tired as to be taken by the hand, or knocked down by the stick, of one of its barbarous pursuers. It is then fixed upon the top of a long pole, to which is suspended a red handkerchief, by wat of a banner; and in that manner it is carried round about the town, in triumph,- which serves as a pretext for begging money, or liquor , from the inhabitants. If they can catch, or kill the poor wren, before sun-rising, they firmly believe that it ensures a good herring fishery the next season. What gave rise to such a strange, barbarous custom (which exists in every fishing town in the isle) I have not yet been able to learn: or why the tit-wren should be selected as the victim of that day; unless, from being the smallest bird upon the island, it is intended or meant as a proper sacrifice to the fairies

Image of a wren chirping

Historical image depicting the hunting of a wren in Wales and Ireland.

Wren hunting – on St Stephen’s day (26/27 December) – with sticks & stones – believed to result in good herring season 🐟🪶

Ancient Poems Reveal the History of the Endangered Yangtze Porpoise Mentions of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise in ancient Chinese poetry have revealed missing information about the habitat of the world’s only freshwater porpoise

Fascinating demonstration of the application of alternative data sources - poetry - in marine historical ecology - to inform conservation & management @oceanspast.bsky.social @projectfishistory.bsky.social @leafyhistory.bsky.social

www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...

HERRING KNOWLEDGE WANTED Project aims We aim to identify herring spawning grounds in the Irish Sea by incorporating historical sources (e.g., old newspapers and fisheries reports), local knowledge and modern data (e.g., seabed sediment maps). Information needed • Where were herring caught locally? • When in the year did herring arrive? • Where did herring spawn? • How were herring used locally? We need YOUR help! We are seeking anyone with local knowledge on herring, past & present. • Fishing industry- active & retired • Sea anglers • Fish trade/seafood industry • Historians- local & maritime • Government agencies & NGOs Area of interest: Irish Sea Can you offer any information? Or know someone that might? Contact email address: fishistory@bangor.ac.uk bluesky: projectfishistory

CHWILIO AM WYBODAETH AM BENWAIG Amcanion y project Ein nod yw nodi mannau silio penwaig ym Môr Iwerddon drwy ymgorffori ffynonellau hanesyddol (e.e. hen bapurau newydd ac adroddiadau pysgodfeydd), gwybodaeth leol a data modern (e.e. mapiau’n nodi gwaddod gwely'r môr). Y wybodaeth sydd ei hangen • Ble yn lleol y daliwyd y penwaig? • Pryd yn ystod y flwyddyn y cyrhaeddodd y penwaig? • Ble wnaeth y penwaig silio? • Sut oedd y penwaig yn cael eu defnyddio'n lleol? Mae arnom angen eich help CHI! Rydym yn chwilio am unrhyw un sydd â gwybodaeth leol am benwaig, yn y gorffennol a’r presennol. • Y diwydiant pysgota - p’un a ydych yn rhan ohono ar hyn o bryd neu wedi ymddeol • Pysgotwyr môr • Y fasnach bysgod/diwydiant bwyd môr • Haneswyr - lleol a morwrol • Asiantaethau’r llywodraeth a chyrff anllywodraethol Maes diddordeb: Môr Iwerddon Allwch chi gynnig unrhyw wybodaeth? Neu'n adnabod rhywun a allai? Cyswllt fishistory@bangor.ac.uk projectfishistory

📢 Calling all members of the fishing and seafood industry, historians, government and local experts!

🐟 Know where herring were caught, when they arrived, where they spawned, or how they were used?

🗣️ We want to hear from you!
📩 Contact fishistory@bangor.ac.uk

Dr Marian Gwyn, promoting the petition to save Bangor University Archives and Special Collections at our National Library of Wales earlier today.

Please support: www.change.org/p/save-your-...

Diolch!

@archpbu.bsky.social

Marine historical ecology

The great thing about this research is finding leads to priceless marine biological data in the most unexpected places

The knowledge of historians is crucial in tracking these down! @ystadaucymru.bsky.social @leafyhistory.bsky.social @projectfishistory.bsky.social