Long before Brighton decided to make money through entertaining tourists, there was one main industry in the town – fishing.

It wasn’t the ideal spot for fishing as there were fierce winds and there was no natural harbour. But apart from a limited amount of agriculture in areas below the Downs, there was not much else to-do.

Fishing boats were kept on the beach and were exposed to the elements. A special design was developed.

The boats were broad in the beam so that they could not easily be capsized and had a shallow draught to make them easier for men to haul them clear of waves on the beach. Known as hog boats or hoggies, they operated for hundreds of years.

There were serious setbacks over the years.Twice in the 16th century, Brighton was raided by the French who caused enormous damage.

In the 18th century, a series of catastrophic storms hit Brighton almost wiping out the town and destroying many fishing boats.

But somehow Brighton and its fishing boats survived and when tourism finally arrived in the 18th century, fishermen were well placed to take part.

They sold fish from a place on the front near the Old Ship Hotel. They offered boat trips in the sea to visitors.

One of the fishermen, a Captain Collins, became famous all over the land with his cry: “Any more for the Skylark?”

During the dark days of the Second WorldWar, Brighton fishermen were among the first to take part in the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in France. They had small boats and there was some loss of life but they helped in the rescue.

Life did not get any easier for the fishing community after the war. Competition from other nations, especially Belgium, started to deplete fishing stocks in the English Channel. The beam trawlers often used by these invaders took thousands of young fish which were not thrown back into the water.

In the 1960s, councillors decided that the open-air fishing market on the front was unhygienic and should be replaced. The fishermen had to be part of the wholesale market in Circus Street which was off the main tourist beat.

But gradually improvements were made. Many fishing folk moved their vessels to Brighton Marina which ended the laborious business of hauling boats up the beach.

When the seafront between the piers was renovated in the 1990s, a new fish market was established at the insistence of Labour councillorAndy Durr.

He was also instrumental in forming a fishing museum with free entry in some of the nearby arches and it is open all the year round.

Fishing families have passed down the skill to their children, providing a continuity rare in such a mobile city. The same names that exist today can be found in census returns for a century ago.

One fisherman, John Leach, became a well-known Conservative councillor and was elected as Mayor of Brighton.

The fishing industry today is far smaller than it was in the past but it is well-placed to survive and even thrive.