Primary Source Document : "A history of Mullion Cove Cornwall"

by Robert Felce Bsc(Hons)

p102-106

Published 2012 ISBN978-0-9569895-1-2

Mullion Fishing Cove, or Porthmellin to give it its correct name, has been part of the Mounts Bay Fishery for many centuries but even after the building of the Harbour it still fell foul to the storms which crossed the Atlantic, the depressions often deepening as they approached the cornish coast.

The storms were, however, not restricted to the winter.

In July 1839, for example, 50 years before the building of the harbour a severe storm caused the loss of 6 seine boats and almost all the fishing gear. Half of the boats and nets in the fishery was said to have been lost. All the pots belonging to the crab fishermen from the Lizard to Lands End, including the store pots were lost. The financial loss amounted to £5-£10 per man- a small amount of money now, but a huge loss for that time.

It wasnt until after the harbour was built that the longstanding practice of not fishing on a sunday was changed. On 15th October 1898 a good catch of pilchards was left in the nets overnight on Saturday and Sunday to await distribution on Monday but a heavy ground sea got up overnight combined with high spring tides on the saturday and damaged every net containing fish. Late on Saturday the boats agreed to try and to put to sea to save the catch but it was too rough for them to get onto the water. One of the best catches of fish and all the nets were damaged and lost along with boats belonging to T. Downing and Mr Mitchell of Polurrian House.

In early 1905 there were several storms which caused the loss of nets and fishing gear but these were not the only storms to hit the local industry that summer. It became one of the worst incidents ever experienced by the fishermen of Mullion and almost led to the closure of the fishery.

Below- Early 20th century image of Mullion Cove

By early August the pilchard fishing season was just beginning and all the boats were on the water, being safely moored in the harbour, ready to answer the call of the huer whose little stone built hut with its roof constructed from an old upturned boat situated right on the edge of Henscath cliff faced the fishing grounds between Mullion Island and Pedngwynian.

The Hotels and Guest Houses were full of visitors enjoying the summer weather and local scenic attractions.

The Farmers, realising the importance of the crops to be gathered had become keen to harvest the grain and were keen to get the corn cut and put into "mowes" as soon as possible. Of course many of the men engaged in the harvest were also fishermen and needed to earn their living from both occupations in order to feed their families.

Local fisherman Edward George had only recently taken possession of a new fishing boat and gear- the previous one being lost in the storms of the previous year.

Records show August 1905 was unsettled throughout the month. A number of depressions came in from the Atlantic, and the deepest showed itself off the SW coast of Ireland on the 2nd before skirting the SW Coast of England. On the morning of the the 4th August it suddently changed course and passed east of Ireland. Pressure readings showed that the lowest pressure recorded was on the 3rd and the 4th.

On the 2nd of August the sea in the Mounts Bay was calm and the fishermen saw no urgency to take either nets or boats from the water and pull them on shore up the slipway. The new boat belonging to Edward George was moored in the centre of the harbour along with others including that of fisherman John Bray. Others were moored against the harbour piers. The fishermen moored them there so that the following day- Thursday the 3rd of August they could bring in their trammel nets early. They decided that the boats would be safe overnight but by the following morning conditions had suddenly changed and the bad weather arrived in the form of gales and a storm from the south and south south west.

As one local newspaper reported,

"An alarm was given early the next morning and a wild rush was made for the cove, where a disastrous scene met the fishermens gaze.The boats were being driven madly one against the other and then dashed against the piers filling some to sinking point- two going to the bottom just as the first efforts were being made to save them".

Two brothers Tommy and Jim Downing were put at great risk trying to save their fishing gear and Edward George was nearly swept over the pier and into the sea by a tremendous wave. He was saved only by clutching onto a pipe fixed to the pier.

John Bray had only just got into his boat when it sank like a stone. Joseph Gilbert in the next boat managed to grab him and pull him to safety. The work went on to pull the boats ashore, hindered by towering waves.

Visitors were on the scene and watched as the rescue took place.

Some boats had little damage but others were badly battered, especially boats belonging to Edward George and Tommy Downing.

This was the second loss for the fishermen in the year but luckily no lives were lost.

With most of the boats out of action and nets and gear lost the little band of fishermen were hit hard at a time when they least needed it, and there was deep concern for the future of the fishery.

As news of the disaster travelled around there was no delay in donations being forwarded to help with the refurbishment of the boats and loss of fishing nets and gear.

Below; Fishing boats moored in Mullion Harbour, a few years after the storm which damaged the boats in 1905.

The Harbour Regatta, in which the fishermen were always heavily involved was due shortly, and it looked like it would have to be cancelled, with a loss of revenue which helped the fishermen maintain their occupation. Luckily, there were many prominent figures of the time staying at the local hotels and one group of well known Edwardian actors were not slow in realising the importance of the Regatta as a fund raising venue.

It fell upon Mr Seymour Hicks ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Hicks), and his wife Elleline Terriss (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellaline_Terriss) along with other authors and actors to provide support. They were two of the the most popular actors of their day, being well known for their exploits on the London Stage, later the silent movies plus the early "talkies". With their friends they provided a Programme of events entitled "The Fishermens Sports" and autographed them for visitors to help raise funds. (Programme of Events Courtesy B. Mundy)

Above: St. Winwalloe Church, Church Cove, Gunwalloe, Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, England.

Church Cove, Dollar Cove and Loe Bar. Many shipwrecks took place on this coast.