Thanks for all your suggestions on this matter. It seems that the origins of
the phrase 'fishing fleet' in this context remains elusive. I think it must
have been in the early 20th century
best wishes
Andrew
http://www.andrewlycett.co.uk/
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Engle" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 12:55 AM
Subject: Re: fishing fleet
> For what it's worth, Partridge (in full) says :
>
> [1] "The wives and families of naval officers spending the season at
> Malta", naval: from ca.1890.
>
> And in his supplement he adds:
> 2. Hence, "women who frequent the Ladies' Lounge at the Union Club, Malta
> " (Granville): Naval: since ca.1920. On the look-out for eligible Navy
> men.
>
> Granville = Wilfred Granville, A dictionary of naval slang, typescript'
> 1945.
>
> I'm not sure what, if anything, one can deduce from this; but perhaps it
> is likely that the wider meaning arose later than the naval one.
>
> Bonne chance George
>
> ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
>
>
>
>
> in his 1961 supplement goes on to say: (2) Hence
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrew Lycett" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 6:49 PM
> Subject: fishing fleet
>
>
> Can someone please help me? I am reviewing a new book about the 'Fishing
> Fleet' - sub-titled 'Husband-Hunting in the Raj'.
>
> My query is when did this term come into use? I have an inkling that it
> was
> only really after the First World War - and that any use before that is
> anachronistic. Does anyone know of an earlier use?
>
> Partridge apparently (I have been told second hand ) seems to agree with
> me,
> saying it was used by the Navy in Malta c.1890 and was only found in India
> in the 20th century.
>
> Andrew Lycett
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