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Gillian Dickson, intrepid wife of Newlyn Fishermen's Mission Superintendent,
Keith Dickson, has returned from a five-day fishing trip more determined
than ever to continue "fighting for fishermen."
 The
mum of two, who has discovered for herself the true cost of fish, left
Newlyn at 10.45am on April 22 on board the beam trawler, Sapphire, and
returned at around midnight last Tuesday at the end of a truly life-changing
experience.
She admits to having been frightened - perhaps as much during the build-up
to her trip as during it - and suffering from quite severe sea sickness
for the most part.
"I felt ill about 40 minutes after we left and apart from a day
of feeling better, most of the time I did suffer," she said.
Now well on course to realising her £5,000 goal for Mission funds,
Gillian admits to being a wiser woman. Her high regard for fishermen remains
un-diminished. In fact her respect and regard for all in this most dangerous
of professions has never been higher.
"Seeing their stamina, working through day and night, had the most
profound effect upon me. It was an eye-opener," she says.
So much so that Gillian is suggesting that Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw
and other politicians who tackle fishing matters should do the same and
witness "the true cost of fish."
Gillian went to sea with skipper, Michael Corin, his son Paul and crewman
Frankie Busby - and they were, she reports, "gentlemen throughout".
She says: "I lost my track of time. I had no idea that those lads
work around the clock. Those nets are hauled every three hours, night
and day for the whole trip, and Michael told me that the summer's not
so bad, with tows of three hours each. But the winter is worse with the
tows lasting just two hours.
"We all know fishermen work hard, but seeing their stamina to work
through day and night, grabbing just the odd hour of sleep when they can,
had the most profound effect on me. By the time beam trawls are hauled,
the cod ends are swung aboard and emptied, the nets shot away again while
two men sort out the fish - gutting, washing and icing that fish - three
hours is up and its time to haul again.
"They are meticulous on cleanliness, keeping the quality of their
fish as high as possible. Any damaged fish goes back overboard or is eaten.
Each man has to take his turn on watches at the wheel and Frankie the
cook is an excellent cook, supplying a roast dinner every day."
Gillian Dickson has always been fighting for fishermen. "You cannot"
she says "be in the Mission without giving it your heart. But I am
even more committed now.
"Many people in the Mission didn't know that trawl nets are working
around the clock, day after day.
"I will now be telling everyone what it's really like out there,
and equally I understand why fishermen have difficulty explaining their
work to ordinary people. Fishing is a very special industry, difficult
to understand until you have seen it.
"They are very determined men, clearly a breed apart. Camaraderie
between boats is never-ending and it's hard to believe that in 2004 people
like our fishermen are treated in the manner they are."
It is not too late to make a contribution to Gillian's brave fund-raising
for the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. Donations may be
sent to the Fishermen's Mission, The Strand, Newlyn, TR18 5JB.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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