declared he had never known so bad a season. Thus, notwithstanding the good catches by those who sailed westward in January, the whole of the men were in debt. The herrings, however, even in the month of June, when not expected, were courageous enough to face the nets, and on the night of the 11th "Busy" Food caught 8,000, "Civil Dick", 5,000, and "Archdeacon" (William) Gallop, 4,000. Some other boats also netted a few fish.
Maritime Casualties
Saving a Wreck. Although on the whole the fishermen did badly at their regualar(sic) avocation, a few of them were fortunate in other ways. At about 7pm. on the 24th of February, as the Hastings fishermen were trawling between their own town and Rye, and at about 8 miles from shore, they saw an outward-bound ship run down a schooner. The ship was hove to, and it was believed took off the schooner's crew. Four of the trawlers went to the spot, and lay by the wreck till the morning. They endeavoured to tow it ashore; but finding it impossible, one of the boats came home and got the help of a steam-tug from Rye. The wreck and its general cargo was got on to Rye bar by night, and by the next flood-tide into the harbour. Two months later, the crews of the four fishing boats obtained £284 as salvage money.
Another Collision On the night of the 20th of March, a Hastings fishing-boat sustained considerable damage, besides losing her nets, in consequence of being run into by an unknown French lugger.
A Previous Collision The "Elizabeth" fishing-boat had been also run into by the "Loire", but in this case the owner (Mark Swaine) received a compensation of £20.
And Yet Another. During a thunderstorm on the night of June 19th, the 'Bee' fishing lugger, of Hastings was run foul of by the barque "Hamilton" of Fredericstadt at about three leagues from Beachy Head. The lugger was riding by her nets at the time, and sustained considerable damage.
Run Aground. On Monday, March, 2nd, the Edith schooner ran aground opposite to Eversfield place, but was afterwards refloated without having sustained any material damage.
Catching Welks A new method of fishing for whelks by means of baited baskets was this year adopted, and was said by the fishermen to be much more successful than the old method.
A Fisherman Drowned - On the early morning of Nov. 27th, as Joseph Britt, on returning from a night's herring fishing, was -
