“There are 22 yawls which pursue the line fishery for haddock, cod, and blockens, on the Rigg and East bank, about two miles from the harbour, and afford the chief supply of white fish to the county of Down, They use a small cove without a pier, where they can be readily launched into deep water by a slip which has been lately improved for their convenience." (R.C.I.F, 1822, 409)
The fishermen of Killough were dependant on their boats unlike the fishermen of Ardglass and the surrounding offshore fisheries who balanced a fishing and farming livelihood. A number of the Killough fishermen were involved in piloting such an example was ‘Buttons’ Taylor who owned and worked the yawl Marion. During the early part of this century there existed three known pilots in Killough. The task and purpose of a pilot was to guide a boat into the harbour. Killough had many cargo ships frequenting it bringing shipments of coal to Hunters the large coal store in the village. Reports suggest that up to two or three boats would deliver at a time to the harbour. (Malcolm Collins, oral evidence) Boats came from Newry and Warrenpoint and Collins (oral evidence) remarks that this was an extremely common event as Killough was a seasonal port, receiving loads of potatoes as well as shipments of coal. In the early years of piloting great competition existed between the pilots. After receiving the word that a boat was leaving from Newry to birth in Killough, ‘Buttons’ cycled to Newry as a means of making sure he would pilot the vessel into the harbour. In other instances, Marion would be rowed out to the incoming ship and Buttons would climb aboard. (M.C, oral evidence)
“Once aboard, that was his ship.”
Other accounts indicate that agreement existed between the pilots. Each pilot was asigned a boat of their own, this prevented any ill feeling which may arise! For example, Barney O’Prey piloted the coal boats while Buttons was allocated the merchant ship ‘Cullan Allen’. (Joe McClean, oral evidence) Another ‘bonus’ to the job of piloting was wenching. This was the activity of hoisting up cargo by a wench and lifting it across to the quay. Sailors very rarely participated in this task but this was to the benefit of the pilots as it was a means of earning extra money. (J.M, oral evidence)
