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1. EARLY CRAYFISHING DAYS
Some early history of the crayfishing industry.
Early settlers found that the reefs offshore at Cape Jaffa were a good breeding ground for crayfish. The reefs are so close to shore that the crayfish could be collected by wading out and feeling under the rocks. Crayfish would be brought ashore abd cooked in a kerosene tin over a fire of driftwood, not surprising that for many years this was a favorite camping and picnic area.
"Couta Boats" were found to be suitable for local conditions and crayfishing. They were commonly used in Victoria for fishing for barracouta, so getting the name "couta boats". These attractive little wooden boats with tall masts and sails were regarded as being easy to handle and fast. As time went by they were fitted with motors, usually engines from Essex motor cars.
The fishing industry was not organised and the men went out whenever it suited them. Mostly they took their boats out of the water during the winter to avoid the rough weather. They could sail up the Maria Creek as far as the Dudley Bridge, about a kilometre from shore. Some would drag the boats onto seaweed along side the jetty where they could be overhauled before the next spring.
Info courtesy Kingston branch of the National Trust.
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