Fishing Smack owners

[mich]

Could anyone tell me whether owners of fishing smacks during the 1800's would have had to register them or have some sort of fishing licence?The area I am interested in is King's Lynn Norfolk
Thanks

[Geoffers]

The 1800's is a long period of time and a fair bit of legislation came into force covering different aspects of the Merchant Navy (including some fishing vessels). I think fishing boats only needed to be registered from the Merchant Shipping Act 1894.

Try starting with TNA's research guides
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?j=1#m
Look at the links prefixed 'Merchant Seamen' and 'Merchant Shipping'.

Libraries sometimes have collections dealing with industry of local importance (for example, Lowestoft Library has a fair bit on its fishing industry)

Geoffers

[mich]

Thanks Geoffers.