Mersea Island by Mary French, edited by Alec Grant 1973. Page 17.
Oysters sold to Whitstable - loaded in smacks SPEEDWELL, ROSE, ADA, and sold as Whistable Natives.
In 1973 there are 6 dredging boats, open boats for oysters, and 6 larger boats, decked with a wheelhouse, which go outside the estuary to catch whiting, plaice, soles, skate and herring.
Date: 1973