Made by the Seamen’s  Mission, this film illustrates the work of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen and its role within fishing communities.  Discusses the work of E.J. Mather and the part he played in establishing mission boats for fishermen.  Residents of the fishing communities of Mallaig and Lowestoft talk about their relationship with the mission and how it has helped them cope with dangers and tragedies of deep sea fishing.  Finally, the film compares modern trawler...

Made by the Seamen’s  Mission, this film illustrates the work of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen and its role within fishing communities.  Discusses the work of E.J. Mather and the part he played in establishing mission boats for fishermen.  Residents of the fishing communities of Mallaig and Lowestoft talk about their relationship with the mission and how it has helped them cope with dangers and tragedies of deep sea fishing.  Finally, the film compares modern trawler fishing with traditional fishing techniques, looking at the modernisation of the fishing industry and the many traditions which have survived into the late twentieth century. The film opens with shots of a fishing net and the electronic equipment on a trawler. The title sequence is followed by fish being sold in harbour, a fish and chip shop and a fishmonger.  Following this is black and white archive footage of trawlers in rough seas. Cutting back to a modern boat, a net is being emptied, and the fish are sorted cleaned and put into baskets.  Short clips of iceberg are followed by a trawler as it returns to a Scottish port. Prawns are caught in pots and a diver catches scallops.  Conditions on a modern boat are highlighted before cutting to more archive footage and stills. Commentary describes the work of a man called Mather who set up the Seamen’s' Mission.  Interview with Ben Green tells Mather's story, how he sent out boats to help fishermen.  The widow of a mission ship captain tells the story over stills and drawings.  The commentary notes 18 missions still exist on land.  After shots inside a mission, a large boat is towed out of Lowestoft harbour, and a small one enters the Scottish port of Malig.  Archive footage of Scottish herring girls at work on fish and preparing kippers.  Next there is a modern kipper factory.  Highlighted is the Seamen’s' Mission work in Malig through interviews with local people and see the activities they organise (music, dance etc). Back to Ben Green who describes hardships and a woman tells how her husband was lost at sea.  Green tells how the Mission supports such people. Another woman tells how they helped her at Christmas.  A series of disasters from the past are described while we see drawings and archive footage. A modern accident is re-enacted, a man is injured so the coastguard is called who scramble a helicopter. The helicopter arrives at the boat and the injured man is winched up. Retired fishermen meet at the Mission and talk of old times. Closing credits over various shots and closing remarks by Green and flag of Mission. Director ERULKAR, Sarah Director DE NORMANVILLE, Peter Production Company Antony Barrier Productions Sponsor Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen Producer BARRIER, Antony Photography COMA, Gus Photography DAY, Richard Editor AYTON, Roy Sound KRAMER, Louis Sound PLUMMER, Dudley Sound Re-recording KING, Richard Commentator HEPTON, Bernard