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Title: FISHING FLEET

Reference number: 1595

Date: 1939

Director: filmed by J. Evans Gordon

Sound: silent

Colour: bw

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 13.16 mins

Description: An illustration of Lossiemouth's fishing industry detailing the preparations before, during and after a catch. The Seine fishing method is highlighted.

Prize-winning film at the 7th Scottish Amateur Film Festival 1940

Gordon took a house in Lossiemouth for several weeks during filming. His nephew James Gordon is the wee boy shown at (1.24). He recalls that there was a sound version made subsequently and shown in the Camp Cinema at his National Service billet. Shown in the public hall in Lossiemouth shortly after completion to a packed house

Credits: Prize-winning film at the 7th SAFF 1940

Shotlist: Credits (.15) radio mast and set. Captions with fish prices. Lossiemouth. Map of the Moray Firth area (.38) fishing fleet in Lossiemouth harbour (.48) Lossiemouth holds third place among Scottish ports for white fish landings. Landing the catch on the quay (1.24) the fleet has developed from simple beginnings. Shots of a wee boy fishing by net, children playing (1.43) fishing vessel enters the harbour (2.00) It now consists of 80 diesel engined boats, 450 fishermen and 250 other persons. shots of boats in harbour. c/u of names (2.20) On Saturday, the fleet prepares for the week's fishing. Fishermen mend nets and ropes (2.40) supplies are loaded. General shots of harbour, stacks of crates, etc. Shots as a tanker delivers fuel (3.43) The boats set sail before dawn. shots of the fleet in harbour (3.56) map (3.59) fleet boat leaves harbour (4.12) c/u of the winding gear and coils of rope (6.50) shots of nets as they are hauled aboard (7.12) Sheltered grounds for spawning and feeding ensure an abundance of fish of high quality. Fish are landed on deck, nets hauled in, etc. and shots of fish being packed in crates and lowered into hold (9.02) During the afternoon the boats return to harbour gvs of deck (9.22) medium shot of boat approaching harbour and c/u of boat in harbour (9.49) Cod, haddock, plaice, hake, whiting, sole, skate and ling are landed. The catch is unloaded. Fish laid out on floor of shed (10.37) Eight salesmen and seventy buyers dispose of the landings shots of market, scenes of buying and selling (11.38) Rapid transport to all parts of the country ensures delivery of fresh fish of first qulity Map (11.44) men load fish van (11.50) shot of steam train at Lossiemouth railway platform (12.01) shots of passengers (12.07) map (12.09) fish lorries (12.22) map (12.24) train on line (12.27) map (12.28) fish (12.33) sunset over the sea (12.37) fleet tied up in harbour for the night (12.41) sunset (12.47) and in the faint early dawn the fleet sets its daily course to enact yet another epic of labour. Boat at sea (13.06) The End ecs (13.16)