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Dredging for
White Weed
Most things harvested from the sea end up on a
dinner table.... but not all are edible. Such was the case with
the rather inaptly named white weed during Whitstable of the
1950s. John Harman explains....
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For a while during the early 50's, there
was a rather unusual departure from regular fishing at the harbour.
This came about as a result of a lucrative
demand for what we called 'White Weed' - otherwise known as
'Air Fern' or 'Sea Fern'. This seemingly lacy fern like
"plant" grew in abundance out in the estuary. However, it
was not a plant at all. It was actually animal in content - the
skeletal remains of a sea creature officially called Sertularia and
acknowledged as a distant relative of coral.
The boats that had mechanical hauling gear
could harvest the product. To do this, they towed not so much a
dredge but rakes. These rakes were custom made at Leney's Forge on
Sea Wall. They were heavy and about six feet wide. When they were
hauled in, the weed would be stuck between the large teeth.
Once back at the harbour, the weed would be
washed and squeezed dry by putting it through a mangle (wringer). It
was then bagged up in sacks and sent off to the buyer in London.
From there it started a whole new life. I believe it was treated
with glycerin, dyed a bright green and sent off to America where it
was sold as an ornament in little bunches.
There was one down side to dredging for
this catch. Both you and your clothing became impregnated with an
offensive smell. You dare not go into any shops on your way to
or from work.
One Sunday morning, my brother George took it
into his head to go to church on his way to work. He stood at
the back but in a short time all heads were turning his way,
and they were not looking for the collection plate!
John Harman
Sidney
British Columbia
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One of the points we should make here
is that Whitstable was not just a place where the entire fishing
industry was devoted to oysters. There was considerable variety of
catches and fishermen adapted to circumstances and exploited business
opportunities.
A
Cottage Industry on Land
For a brief period, non-seagoing
Natives also spotted business opportunities from the mysterious
catch and it appears to have been based at this small shop at the
corner of Northwood and Tankerton Roads......
Out of the blue, Natives started to call at the premises to pick up quantities of weed and a pack of
materials. The kits were taken home where the friendly Natives
died the weed green and tied it into attractive bundles. Several
families in my road alone became involved.
No.... they hadn't lost their marbles. There was
profit in it and they received cash when the manufactured bundles
were returned to the shop. As a young child, the only thing
that I knew about this curious process was that the weed had a
pungent smell and it was destined for posh restaurants in London
where it was used as a table decoration. Of course, the outworkers
also gained the pungent smell.... along with green fingers.
As a five year old, I had no idea
where the weed came from.... until John Harman's account arrived
at Simply Whitstable fifty years on! Most people thought I had lost my marbles
when I attempted to describe the brief industry.
It's also interesting to note that our weed travelled to London
for the benefit of gastronomes. Nowadays, the gastronomes come to
Whitstable to be fed. Of course, the weed has disappeared into the
mists of the town's fishing history..... but, when you relate the story,
don't let anyone tell you that you have lost your marbles...
because it really DID happen!
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