The enthusiastic historian and naturalist Michael Clegg travels the Yorkshire region meeting colourful characters, looking at interesting places and uncovering some off-beat jobs and trades. In this episode of Clegg's People, Michael Clegg visits the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough and talks to a fisherman, a fish dealer, and a marine naturalist to hear their opinions on the state of the North Sea. The programme begins with a panoramic view of Scarborough’s south bay,...

The enthusiastic historian and naturalist Michael Clegg travels the Yorkshire region meeting colourful characters, looking at interesting places and uncovering some off-beat jobs and trades. In this episode of Clegg's People, Michael Clegg visits the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough and talks to a fisherman, a fish dealer, and a marine naturalist to hear their opinions on the state of the North Sea. The programme begins with a panoramic view of Scarborough’s south bay, followed by views of a crowded beach and a children’s fun fair. A travelling view along the promenade show people in deck chairs and activities on the beach. From the beach a view follows of people enjoying themselves with a view of the imposing Grand Hotel in the background. Michael stands on the beach in front the camera holding a dish of seafood giving a brief history of man’s first use of Scarborough as a place to find food. General views follow of Curly Fletcher’s sea food stall and people walking along eating fish and chips. A different view shows visitors followed queuing at ‘Scott’s Corner’ fish and chip shop. On the harbour wall, anglers test their skill at some sea fishing. Michael joins them as he tries his luck with a rod and line. A fishing boat heads out to sea with the sun shining but in less than calm water. On board Michael talks to Tom Rowley who has a lifetime of experience as a fisherman and is from a fishing family. The boat is called the Chigwell and is a relatively new acquisition. Tom says the prospects for fishermen currently are not good and earnings are causing concern within his own family. A crew member hauls on board one of the pots used for catching lobster and crab. Tom empties the pots keeping only those animals caught which are of a certain size and throwing smaller ones back into the sea. A herring gull, a regular visitor to Tom’s boat lands and Michael gives it’s a tit-bit in the form of small fish used as bait. Michael is back at the harbour at Scarborough looking down on the fishing vessels that are moored there. A view follows of the fish market, with large numbers of different species on sale. Michael points out the size of the market has shrunk significantly compared to the market of thirty years ago. He talks to retired fisherman Mickey Scales who comments on the market and how it compares times when used it professionally. He also reminisces about catching fish when he first started 50 years ago and the more scientific methods of fishing used now. Two men sort fish from plastic boxes. Michael explains that fish go from the market to the fish merchant Derek Watson. Derek speaks about the current crisis from the merchant’s point of view as he helps to sort fish. Inside two men work at filleting the fish, Michael is offered the chance to fillet a fish after a quick lesson from a professional. Michaels next port of call is with marine naturalist David Whitaker, who also runs the lighthouse museum. Visitors admire the items on display most of which have a connection to the local fishing industry and marine wildlife. The film then goes on to show a young boy and girl exploring rock pools. Michael and David travel to just north of the town to Burniston, where the rock formations produce an abundance of rock pools. David lifts a rock in one of the pools to show Michael a chiton a marine mollusc with a plated flexible shell. He also finds a three-legged starfish; David speculates that the starfish may well regenerate a new leg. In another pool they spot a crab. Michael picks it up, an example of the common green shore crab. He returns it to a pool. Michael then spots a hermit crab in the pool. David retrieves what turns out to be a young specimen, and he returns it to the pool. Michael asks David about changes to the local ecology which might occur in the future. On camera David states that he would expect no great change and plants and animals would continue to flourish. Although occasionally conditions might favour some species over another, or you may get other flora or fauna creating an overpowering presence such as the starfish, but these are variations over time and not permanent. Michael meets up with Doctor Jack Lewis, they walk along the perimeter of a pitch and putt golf course. Before retirement Doctor Lewis was director of the Marine Research laboratory at Robin Hoods Bay. As they sit on a bench overlooking a view of the sea, Michael asks him about marine ecology in the North Sea. Michael sums up the issue of North Sea fish stocks which are thought to be the greenhouse effect or pollution, or as local fishermen think, over-fishing. Jack Lewis thinks that the size of specimens caught has reduced over the years which might lead him to agree with the fishermen’s theory. He thinks overall pollution that comes in from the major estuaries will have an effect, but he says, with some certainty, that over-fishing is the main issue, along with the damaging effect of trawling equipment on the sea bed. Molluscs and other small creatures live on the sea bed and destruction of their habitat would deprive fish of food. Trawler free zones which Michael talks about seems to be a solution with which Dr Lewis agrees. However, from his studies Dr Lewis says that most fluctuations in species numbers are natural. Successful reproduction for any species is the physical regime and the climate. During a breeding season small changes in temperature can influence a successful breeding season. He asserts that only long-term studies will provide results which will confirm whether there is a genuine crisis or simply a natural fluctuation in the local ecology. As Michael sums up what he has found out during the programme, the film moves on showing surfers enjoying the sea and herring gulls feeding on left over scraps near the harbour. Michael ends the programme with a note of concern regarding the lack of long-term research on the local marine ecology. Credits: Sound Paul Gunstone, George Speller Graphics Richard Wisdom Editors Tim Dawson, John Hey Produced/Director/Cameraman Charles Flynn Series Editor David Lowen Executive Producer Graham Ironside. © Yorkshire Television Ltd 1989 End credit: Yorkshire Television production