THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 
185 
going qualities of the Cornish lugger-fishing boat, and said that he 
knew of no class of fishing craft of like size that surpassed these 
luggers for speed and stability combined. 
On November 14th, 1854, the fishing lugger Mystery, of 
Newly n, Penzance, of 36 feet keel, was fitted out and manned by 
Eichard Nicholls (master), Job Kelynack, Eichard Badcock, 
William Badcock, Charles Boase, Philip Curnow, of Newlyn, and 
a Penzance man named Lewis, who was shipped as cook and 
steward. Her port of destination was Melbourne, Australia, 
which she reached with the mails from Capetown March 14th, 
1855. 
Plymouth has ever been a central port in connection with the 
mackerel fishery, and to-day is still in that proud position. At 
present the whole of the fleet from Mounts Bay are here fishing, 
bringing in the wealth of the Channel as best they can. Many 
boats from Newhaven, Shoreham, Hastings, Brighton, Lowestoft, 
and Great Yarmouth are here, and more are coming. When they 
are all here not less than between 300 and 400 boats will be using 
the port, averaging at least seven men to each crew, or 2800 or 
3000 persons. The presence of these, with boats from Looe, 
Mevagissey, &c, besides our own Plymouth boats, will give you 
some idea of what benefit or otherwise to themselves and families, 
as well as to the town, a successful or unsuccessful mackerel 
season will be. 
So far as harbour facilities and landing accommodation in 
connection with the growing needs of the fishing industry of the 
West of England are concerned, till within the last three years 
practically nothing worth naming has been done to meet the wants 
of the trade ; and scarcely any place is in a worse plight than 
Plymouth so far as landing and despatch is concerned. 
