The Paull Shrimper
Taken from The Humber, A. Watts, 1980...
Paull Creek, the lower part of the former Hedon Haven, was the home of the Paull Shrimper and, at the turn of the Century, the fleet was numerous and the business profitable. The boats varied from between six to twelve tons in displacement, the larger boats being kept anchored in Paull Roads, the smaller type using the creek between tides. The illustration shows a typical rig and hull with the cockpit well extending to the after side of the mast. Very little deck gear was carried, the bowsprit being pressed into service, partly run in, as a Spanish windlass when, for example, the Trawl was fouled and additional power was required. Sails were made by the fishermen themselves, with plenty of flow and heavily ‘dressed’ for a long life.
The boats were undoubtedly good sea boats and were reported to run or reach without a hand on the tiller, whilst the single hand boiled his shrimps, changed head sails or coiled down his trawl warps. The larger boats carried a crew of two. Shrimping was effected by two 9'6" beam trawls with the boats sailing on the ebb and returning on the flood, having the advantage of a favourable tide when working the narrows. They usually fished locally but occasionally they were to be seen prawning on the Haile Sand outside the Humber or, fitted with a stow net, on the Trent or Ouse.
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