The Silver Oyster Race
November 5th besides being Guy Fawkes Day is also the anniversary of a victory for the dredgermen of the Truro Oyster Fishery over Truro Corporation in a legal dispute over the laying of oysters along the foreshore.
The Truro Oyster Fishery is an area defined by the Truro Oyster and Mussel Fishery Order of 1876 as extending from Victoria Point (St Clements) to Messack Point (St Just) to Tarra Point (Mylor) to Sunset (Kea) and returning to Victoria Point.
Under the terms of the Order the Corporation were bound only to raise money by the sale of licenses with a fixed fee levied for each dredge.
The Corporation sought to find ways of increasing revenue and decided to charge the dredgermen for laying or re-laying oysters along the foreshore.
Traditionally on dredging the oyster from the estuary the dredgermen would stake out layings or beds in the creeks in order to deposit their catch to await shipping to market or store young oysters to provide spawn to repopulate the fishery or simply create an oyster larder.
The Corporation instructed its Bailiff to list all these layings within the boundary of the Fishery and impose a charge to either dredgermen or merchant of 1 shilling per 20ft run onshore for each laying.
The laying of cultch (broken oyster shells) to create beds within the Fishery was liable to a £5 fine and zealous Bailiffs impounded young oysters found in certain layings and returned them to the main fishery.
As could be expected these actions brought about organized resistance and in 1894 the Bailiff’s boat mysteriously disappeared and despite a £10 reward had to be replaced.
In 1899 the Corporation commenced legal proceedings against the dredgermen in the High Court over the question of foreshore rights and the ability of the Corporation to charge rent.
Mr. Justice Wills in an historic decision on 5th November 1901 decided in favour of the dredgermen and decided the Corporation had no rights over the foreshore.
There was a debate by the Corporation as to whether to appeal the decision but they eventually conceded defeat and that victory has been celebrated by November 5th being declared a holiday for the dredgermen and a 24 hour shut down of the Fishery.
It was a landmark decision for what was in the early 1900’s a major fishing fleet in the Duchy. Estimates vary with few records but the fleet was reckoned to number between 30-40 sailboats and over 100 plus oyster punts.
Figures are vague and sketchy but in 1924 the fishery stock was estimated at some 7 million oysters and as late as 1953 the Corporation estimated over 3.5 million oysters had been landed in one season.
Oyster fishermen from places such as Whitstable, Colchester and Rochester whose fisheries were in decline made frequent sorties down to Falmouth to raid the fishery from the 1840’s and met fierce local opposition.
It was a man’s livelihood at stake and feelings over oysters ran very high especially when out port boats appeared to harvest the local bounty to be found throughout the Carrick Roads and in all the rivers and creeks.
The invasions declined as the East Coast and Kent oyster fisheries fell into decay and their oyster fleets were converted from sail to engine and accordingly not permitted to dredge in the Fal.
The short season and the need to work a boat for 12 months meant that the fishery has remained purely the preserve of local fishermen.
In 1978 Mylor Yacht Club decided to host a race on November 5th to celebrate the High Court victory and invited all those working boats holding dredging licenses from Carrick Council to participate for the Silver Oyster Trophies.
These trophies were commissioned by the then Commodore of the club Peter Grigg and comprise two mounted oyster shells cast from local oysters which can only be won by competitors in the winter working boat fleets.
Some 21 boats entered and Stella skippered by Ray Frost won B class and Leila with Mike Parsons at the helm won Class C.
For that first event the Oyster Fishery was in very good heart and fleet numbers were in double figures so initially the summer racing fleets were not invited to compete. Indeed in the 1980’s rowing races were organized for the “Haul and Tow” oyster punts to encompass those oystermen who worked the Fishery under oar.
Numbers of entries have varied each year depending on the health of the Fishery, the quality and quantity of the catch. After a few years of falling numbers the decision was taken to invite the summer working boat fleet to join in the festivities.
The common oyster needs a clean environment for their reproduction and growth as on average an adult specimen will daily filter 15 gallons of water to obtain food particles and dissolved oxygen.
The dissolved oxygen content of the water is crucial and must achieve at least 50% saturation before the oyster will survive.
Modern Public Health standards now require Fal oysters are purified in clean saltwater for 48 hours before consumption due to the river suffering periodic mineral pollution from old mine workings and some viral infections from agricultural and sewage waste.
In the early 1980’s a deadly oyster virus Bonamia infected the stock and the fishery all but died off and was closed from 1981 to 1984.
The advent of the Mackerel Klondykers in the late 70’s early 80’s also brought about pollution concerns with at the height of the mackerel boom some 15 huge foreign factory freezer trawlers anchored in the Carrick Roads processing the catch. Oil, bilge water and decomposing fish waste were dangers to the Fishery and seriously effected its future survival.
The decline of mackerel stocks meant that the Klondykers moved on and since then the Fishery has enjoyed a period of relative calm although with such a slow growing creature as the oyster dredging activity is limited and is usually finished before Christmas or the early New Year.
This year is the 36th Silver Oyster Race and takes place next Wednesday as usual on the 5th November. It is a wonderful social occasion with the race in the morning and a pasty and a pint at the Clubhouse after prize giving.
It is a rare opportunity for the summer and winter fleets to socialize and celebrate this unique Fishery and a marvelous day out for both spectators and competitors alike.
I sincerely hope the weather cooperates and would urge anyone in the Mylor area to pop down to the Clubhouse and savour the special atmosphere of this event and the survival of the Oyster Fishery into the 21st century.
Who knows they may even have oysters on the menu if there are any left after the Oyster Festival!