17th August 1893
St Peter Port inundated with fish
Under the headline “Extraordinary Sight on the Breakwater,” The Star of 17 August 1893 reported that at least 150 people had been lining Castle Breakwater every night for several days, “fishing with rods and ground lines, and hauling up high and dry, mackerel, horse mackerel and whiting in wonderful numbers. The sea below the breakwater, during the time mentioned, was literally alive with the fish which were distinctly observable swimming about in hundreds.”
There had been an unprecedented run on fishing tackle, said the paper, and “individual catched of 40 and 50 mackerel etc were not uncommon – in one instance a gentleman pulled up no less than four horse mackerel in three minutes.”
Most likely explanation was that a shoal of white bait, the mackerel’s food, had clustered close to the breakwater.
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Other events that occured in August
A boy scout fell 250ft over a Torteval Cliff
- The scout had been trying to rescue his friend, who had slipped when retrieving a hat.
- Read more…
Philip de Saumarez was discharged as a Jurat
- De Saumarez petitioned the queen to release him when his hearing started to fail.
- Read more…
Guernesiais linguist Marie de Garis died
- Marie de Garis was recognised for her work to preserve Guernsey's local language
- Read more…
Winston Churchill visited Guernsey with his wife
- Winston Churchill was touring various naval installations around Britain
- Read more…