Seining Collection

Towan Head, Newquay, Cornwall. 1900
A view of cliffs on the north side of Towan Head, looking east. The coastguard lookout, with flags flying, can be seen to the right. This is now the site of Newquay War Memorial

Jill Trounson at the Fly pilchard cellar, Newquay, Cornwall. Probably 1921
Jill Trounson and her dog are seated on the steps of Fly pilchard cellar with the remains of Good Intent pilchard cellar beyond

The Amusements of the British Tar Abroad (engraving)
1045842 The Amusements of the British Tar Abroad (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Amusements of the British Tar Abroad)

Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall (engraving)
729302 Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall (engraving) by Craft, Percy Robert (1856-1934); Private Collection; (add.info.: Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall)

We Go Seining and Make a Bonfire in the Woods, Engraving 1884

Herring Weir, Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada

Herring Weir and Swallow Tail Lighthouse, Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada

Picture No. 10850642
FISHING - Seining a Herring weir Date:

We Go Seining And Make A Bonfire In The Woods, Engraving 1884

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"Step back in time to Towan Head, Newquay, Cornwall, around 1900, where locals engaged in the traditional practice of pilchard seining. Jill Trounson, at the Fly pilchard cellar in Newquay, probably around 1921, sorts and packs the freshly caught fish, a common method of fishing in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as depicted in engravings like "Our Fishing Industries: Pilchard Seining in Cornwall" and "We Go Seining and Make a Bonfire in the Woods." Across the Atlantic, in New Brunswick, Canada, herring weirs were also a popular fishing method. The Herring Weir and Swallow Tail Lighthouse on Grand Manan Island and the Herring Weir on Campobello Island are remnants of this once-thriving industry. Despite the efficiency of seining, it came with its challenges. Herring and other fish, such as harbor porpoises, could become trapped in the weirs. In the engraving "Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) caught in herring weir," we see the porpoise's plight. However, cooperation between fishermen has helped reduce the number of porpoises trapped in weirs, making this ancient practice more sustainable for future generations." (Picture No.