"THE HERRING FISHERY IN THE ESTUARY has continued during the past week and we are told that it is calculated that 1000 tons have been taken during the month of November.
"The Oyster fishery has been a complete failure, but Providence has bountifully supplied the fishermen of the district with a more profitable substitute.
Notwithstanding the plenty, the fishing has been carried on every day, though Lord Devon's water bailiff, Lieut. Cornick. R.N. has warned the Exmouth portion of the fishermen, to desist from Sunday fishing, but the Starcross and Topsham people have had a perfect immunity, or if any notice has been taken of their working the Sunday, they have not attended to it: many hands were out last Sunday.
The herrings have been sold at two shillings a thousand. They are small but exceedingly well flavoured and great store has been laid up, by the working classes, for the winter."
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A dried herring with a little bread, black or white, was a pretty standard winter meal for the working classes on the estuary.
I would think that Lieut. Cornick. R.N. had his work cut out trying to stop Sunday fishing when the herring were running up and down the estuary (presumably) in their thousands.
Ah yes, this must be that same Providence that sees to it that the holly has lots of berries before a hard winter so that the birds won't starve."
Source: The Western Times, 5th December, 1840.
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