Interviews with Alfred Curphey of Dalby about thatching and Mr H. Corkill of Douglas about the herring fishing
Audio Player:
Date(s): 1950-1970
Creator(s): Manx Museum
Scope & Content: Track 1: Alfred Curphey of Dalby talks to Margaret Killip about thatching. He talks about using oat straw for thatching houses; how he would get the straw; difference between thatching a house and a stack; preparing the straw; how work would be carried out during January and February and then the house would be thatched in the summer; how thatch would be covered by a fisherman’s net and a straw rope used to fasten the thatch; some thatched houses being over a 100-years-old in the Isle of Man; working on a farm; the smithy in Glen Maye.
Track 2: Mr H. Corkill of Douglas discussing the herring fishing. He talks about fishing near the Chicken stack using sail power before preparing and getting the nets set and shot; the men going to their positions and the cook looking after the spring back rope which goes underneath the boat; floats or ‘booies’ placed to keep the nets in position and floating. He recalls the ‘finishing of the day’ and how when sun went down the nets were shot; selling the herring; herring spent when spawning; stories about the work of the boat's cook; how all men on board a boat had a nickname. He talks about how his mother was a netmaker and father a fisherman; how the women folk would take care of all the money; the reaction of the skipper when he felt seasick with no cure for seasickness; mixture of fine oatmeal used to cure boiler trouble; and what the crew ate.
Administration / Biographical History: Margaret Killip, Manx Folk Life Survey recorder.
Language: English
Extent: 45 min. 4 sec.
Item name: magnetic tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0108
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH, #UOSHManxFolkLifeSurvey