When I was around 12 years old, I would listen to ‘Trawler Band’, that part of the radio spectrum above 2mhz – or 150m in English. I would spend far too much time listening to the ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore radio traffic from the comfort of home. I thought I knew what life must have been like on the rough seas.
That was until yesterday when I came across Sailing with Hunters – a Radio Officer’s memories of life in the fishing industry. It’s fascinating and quite horrific. Give it a read, it won’t take long A bit more wandering around the web came up with some seriously scary images of fishing boats at sea. They’re from the Daily Mail, despite that they’re tremendously good.
Google Image from Mirror website
It could just make you think twice the next time you grumble about the price of fish.A squeeze key, great for sending fast morse – but I think they weren’t officially allowed to be used on board ships. If a surveyor came on board to conduct an inspection these keys had to hidden away!
Some roller coaster ride that.
ReplyDeleteAye, it would scare the living daylights out of me!
ReplyDeleteJJ
Interesting about the Manchester marine college- and scary stuff- happy to say I don't eat fish ;-) I used to enjoy "trawling" what was marked as "marine band" on my old radio.
ReplyDeleteFor someone who regards all science as illogical, and often beyond the bounds of credibility I enjoyed this post. A welcome change from the hills. I read the vivid account from the link you included.
ReplyDeleteThat second photo looks like an egg whisk.
Ah, you've rumbled me Conrad....I thought the egg whisk photo might go un-noticed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments.
JJ