A late 19th century view of Herring drifters sailing in the afternoon to the fishing grounds into the North Sea from North Shields, then in Northumberland, England. The wooden sailing vessels, aka fishing smacks, fished with long nets hanging over the sides like curtains. They would then drift with the tide, waiting until the fish rose to the surface during the night. The nets were then hauled in, the fish placed on ice and the boats raced back to port with the catch.

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Size: 4478px × 3147px
Location: North Shields, Northumberland, England
Photo credit: © De Luan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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