What the Fishermen Ate

t sea or on the coast, fishermen ate not only fish, but also food that could be kept a long time.

Biscuit, butter, bacon, salt beef, dried vegetables and watered-down alcoholic beverages were the main elements of their uninspired meals. The food varied slightly according to the origin of the crew. Beans, peas, potatoes and groats were among the vegetables and grains eaten. The drinks also varied, from cider to beer or wine.

Everyone loved spruce beer. According to books published at the time, nothing beat spruce beer when it came to keeping fishermen healthy. It was a nourishing, inexpensive drink that prevented scurvy. Eau-de-vie or rum was given to the fisherman who worked the hardest or the workers who were most in demand.