The Diet of Fishermen 1848
Extracts from 'A Week at the Lizard'
By the Rev. C.A. Johns, published 1848
At five o'clock, then, on a very bright morning in June, accompanied by a young friend, I met, by appointment, my fellow-voyagers at the Lizard Town, and proceeded with them to Polpeer, where their boat lay, hauled up high and dry, on the sand. The boat's crew consisted of three stout, weather-beaten men, who, if sinew and strength be a criterion, may have derived their descent from the ancient race of Cornish giants.
They carried their fishing-lines and provisions for they day; the latter which they called "foggin", consisting of cakes made of wheaten flour sprinkled at intervals with a few currants (which appeared to be playing at hide-and-seek), and a jar of water. This seemingly unsatisfying fare, they assured me, was their usual food, as they rarely tasted meat.
My own sea-stock, I must confess, was somewhat more substantial............
Having cast off the rope, we proceeded to board another bark, which lay about two leagues further to the west, the men being very desirous of procuring bread, which, at this particular period, as my readers can scarcely have forgotten, was scarce and dear.
