This is a film of interviews with Dr Robb Robinson, of Hull University, and ex fisherman Jim Williams made by students from York St John University as part of a project on the fishing industry of Hull.  The interviews break up in parts, and are partly repeated at the end.  Edited versions of the interviews can be found on the Record Project Films (4170 and 4182). The first interview is with Robb Robinson.  Robb begins by giving a brief history of fishing in Hull, and the fishing community...

This is a film of interviews with Dr Robb Robinson, of Hull University, and ex fisherman Jim Williams made by students from York St John University as part of a project on the fishing industry of Hull.  The interviews break up in parts, and are partly repeated at the end.  Edited versions of the interviews can be found on the Record Project Films (4170 and 4182). The first interview is with Robb Robinson.  Robb begins by giving a brief history of fishing in Hull, and the fishing community centred on Hessle Road.  He then outlines the history to the so-called ‘cod wars’ with Iceland, and the economic and psychological affects the settlement in 1976 had on Hull and the fishing industry.  He then gives an account of St Andrew’s Dock, explaining that for every man fishing at sea a dozen worked on the shore as part of the industry.   He talks about the two remaining sidewinding trawlers, the Viola and the Arctic Corsair.  He relates that his grandfather slept with a knife under his pillow such was the habit of having a knife, used in case the rope thrown from the cutter to the rowing boat got caught up in the propeller.  He also relates the story of his uncle on the armed trawler, the King Saul, during the Second World War, and obtaining a white grand piano from a stranded ship off Norway, which they played for the remainder of the war. Robb goes on to talk about the time at sea, time at shore and the superstitions of fishermen.  Asked about sea folk songs, he states that he never heard folk songs, but rather that fishermen would tune in to US radio stations and listen to country music.  This is followed by an account of the processing of the fish, from the bobbers to the filleters to the (Dutch) auction.  He explains that trawlers would aim to arrive at the right time for the market, as they were paid by how much they made, rather than the quantity, but that they also needed to be fresh.  He then explained that they had been harvesting ice from off Norway from the 1860s, and that this was sold inland as well.  Robb also gives an account of the triple trawler tragedy of 1968. Asked about any special terminology Robb states that rhyming slang was common, and that the phrase ‘gobsmacked’ originated in Hull, and made popular when Alan Plater used it.  Also pubs were given alternative names, the most famous being the Star and Garter, the main fisherman’s pub on Hessle Road, nicknamed Rayner’s (which it is now called). The second interview is with Jim Williams (born 1927).  Jim relates that he was brought up on Hessle Road and that all of his family were in the fishing industry.  He was learning fishing skills from the age of 10.  After leaving the navy at the end of the Second World War Jim spent 27 years at sea and worked his way up to become a captain.  Jim also gives an account of time at sea and on shore, spending time in the pub or going out as the so-called "three-day millionaires".  Then he answers questions on the superstitions, and on the fishing pioneers – including mine sweeping during the war.  Jim also states that they used to tune in to US radio stations to listen to country music.  He talks about a painter who did many paintings of Hull trawlers, including one behind him. When asked what was the most dangerous aspect of the job, Jim gives an account of how ice could form on the superstructure of the ship to make it top-heavy, causing trawlers to capsize.  He gives several examples of when this has happened.  Jim then gives a brief history of fishing in Hull based on a talk he gives.  He finishes by recounting some of his own experiences, and of tragedies immediately before and after the war when he was young.