English Wit

The sardine fishers who set sail from Newlyn Harbour do so in a total of fourteen small vessels equipped with ring nets, three or four fishermen to a boat. During the brief season, the setting sun marks the start of their search for the finest, oiliest sardines in English waters: the anchors are raised, the bright yellow buoys attached to the boats are pulled up, and schools of sardines are localized shortly before the fleet sets off.

The sardines, which swim in large schools and are lured to the surface with bright lights, are encircled by a net that’s closed off at the bottom. In the dead of night this heavy net full of fish is winched up. Then, with a scoop net, the sardines are transferred to the hold so they keep fresh until the boat comes ashore again in Cornwall not long after.