The Royal Navy and Fishery Protection: From the Fourteenth Century to the Present

From the first recorded mention of British ships protecting of fishing vessels in the late fourteenth century through to recent controversies over the change in emphasis to border patrols and overseas deployments, the story of the Royal Navy's 'Cinderella Fleet' involves many dramatic incidents; until now, however, there has never been a book dedicated to the subject. Naval historian Jon Wise's new work will rectify this omission. Historically there have been two main reasons why protecting fishing vessels was so important: first, fish have always constituted an essential part of the nation's diet while, secondly, fishermen have been an important source of skilled personnel for the Royal Navy itself. In this book, the author covers subjects as diverse as the battles with the Dutch for dominance in the North Sea, the protection of fishing on the eastern seaboard of America, and the role of the Squadron in the two World Wars.