Mending his nets

Net mending has been an essential job for fishermen for thousands of years.

Although the materials now used in net construction and repair are the result of years of research and development of synthetic materials, the activity of net mending would be instantly recognised by those fishermen of old.

After a weekend of winter sunshine

we have returned to our normal winter weather pattern,

cold, wet, and grey.

A long way from her home port

This is the Fishing Vessel Altaire making her way across Plymouth Sound on Friday.

Her home port of Lerwick, in the Shetland Isles, 

is almost as far north as you can go in the British Isles, 

and Plymouth is just about as far south as you can go.

Friday was warm and calm as she made her way to a berth in Millbay Docks.

But much of her life is spent in more challenging conditions.

 Take a look

Many shades of blue

Fishing boats in Sutton Harbour

In port for the weekend.

 This quiet scene will change dramatically early on Monday morning 

when the crews prepare these vessels  to go to sea again.

The little red fishing boat.

Preparing for sea on a beautiful winter day.

Fish Market

The storm has passed through

But conditions are still pretty gloomy in Padstow harbour..
This another painting by Yannick Tonnelier from his Storm series.

Padstow Harbour  Yannick Tonnelier                      

Acrylic on board  56ins x 28ins       

Fishing boats in Sutton Harbour

What better place to eat fish fresh from the market.

Trawlers moored at the Fish Market

Plymouth Fisheries in Sutton Harbour is home to England's second largest fish market.

A few months ago, in November 2017, Plymouth Fish market recorded its first £1,000,000 week.

Earlier this month proposed plans, by property developers, to build residential units on the site were abandoned which is good news for the fishing industry in the city.

French Crabber in Roscoff Harbour

It is easy to imagine just how dangerous this deck becomes when the sea is raging.

Sinuous ropes race across the slippery deck, seeking an unwary ankle to drag into the deep, 

while the convoy of tethered pots flies across the deck, one after the other over the side.

Low Tide in Roscoff

 

I was in Roscoff, in Brittany, a few days ago, waiting for the ferry back to Plymouth.

 

 

After a wonderful lunch, as I strolled along the quayside,

 I came across these local boats waiting for the next tide

The name of the first boat in the line caught my eye, 

and the coat of arms of Liverpool Football Club on the wheelhouse.

I am intrigued.

 Is the owner/skipper a long distance fan? Or an exiled 'Scouser'?

Even the cloudy sky

Makes an interesting reflection.

Fog

 

A sudden fog-drift muffled the ocean,
A throbbing of engines moved in it,
At length, a stone's throw out, between the rocks and the vapour,
One by one moved shadows
Out of the mystery, shadows, fishing-boats, trailing each other
Following the cliff for guidance.

 Robinson Jeffers