(Kentish Gazette Jan 8 - 12 1790 p.1 col.3)
Immense quantity of Herrings sold 20 to 30 for 1 shilling (Dover Telegraph 7 Nov 1846 p.8 col.1)
Quantities of Sprats 3d per 100 (Dover Telegraph 26 Dec 1846 p.8 col.2)
EXTRAORDINARY FISH
Dover: A very extraordinary fish was caught on Friday last by some of our fishermen. But at present they are unable to determine the genus to which it belongs. It is about 2-feet in length, and from the neck to the tail is of the “Fiddler” species. The head is immense and the mouth of such dimensions that a calf 's head of no ordinary size would have found an easy passage. It has flippers resembling the feet of a mole with each toe complete, and on either side what fishermen denominate pockets, with a tail terminating in the shape of a dart. It has been called by the several names of the Sea Otter, Monk, and Angler and is carried about to be shown as a 'lusus naturae'.”
(Kentish Gazette, June 11, 1839, page 3, col 4
WHALE:
A large whale 80-ft x 20-ft diameter died on the Goodwin Sands
(Kentish Gazette Fri 15 Oct 1802 back page col.3 half way down)
Also: "A whale of such magnitude" on the shore at Dover
(K.G. 26 Oct 1802 back page col.3 must refer to same)
EXTRACT FROM THOMAS PATTENDEN's DIARY:
"W. 3 May 1797 I asked Mr Moon if the Dover Boats were gone yet on the mackarel season. He said they were just gone this week and told me that one of the boats belonging to Hastings had already catched in one night between that place and Dungeness 7,000 mackarel which were sold at sea for a Guinea and a half a hundred, making £110.5s., this was remarkably fortunate for the fishermen - who in their hurry hauled the Fish on board in the nets as they were, or they would have sold for more.”
(E.Kent Archives)