The preparation of the catch is an essential and capital activity. In 1956, when fishing was in decline, Le Réveil de Berck reported that 400 people were still involved in the preparation of the catch for about 60 sailors. Each crewman had to bring his own prepared ropes, and they were paid according to their number.
Among the specialities, mostly practised by women, there are the "reparatrices" or "ar'péreuses", and the "acqueuses" or "hat'cheuses" who put on the hooks the worms caught in the Authie bay by the worm hunters.
Postcard, Berck interior, repairing the nets, coll. Archives municipales, Berck
Herring is a fragile fish. Fresh and sold directly to the salters, the fish are sent to salting workshops. These were developed in the middle of the 19th century (herring fishing had only been practised in Berck since 1824). These workshops were only in operation from October to December (herring season). The last one was in operation until 1965.
