The mackerel drivers, mostly originating from St. Yves in West Cornwall, were driftnet and gillnetters fishing for mackerel and herring from the mid-19th century, when the fishing industry expanded to meet the growing demand caused by the expansion of the railway network.
These luggers constituted a large fleet that began operating in May, sometimes reaching as far west as the Scilly Isles. In mid-summer, they would switch to herring catching, often fishing at Howth, near Dublin, with their crew of five to six men and a cabin boy.
Drift nets were suspended vertically in the water with floats on top. The fish were trapped in their mesh by the gills, and when the nets were hauled in, they were shaken to dislodge the fish, which were then taken to the hold. The drift nets were made up of vertically joined sections, reaching a total length of up to a mile and a quarter.
Once the fish hold was full, the ships returned to port as quickly as possible, to make the first landing and get the best price for the catch, which could also be loaded on the train to London or another major city, where prices were higher.
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