Life often goes in circles. Take for example the current financial crisis the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners are facing with multi-million pound repayments to the Pilots National Pension Fund and a downturn in shipping numbers, writes David Barnicoat.

Reading the Falmouth News Slip, which was published every Saturday, I came across the following for July 1880 when shipping numbers were also down. Faced with this drop in trade the commissioners reduced wages and axed staff.

“The Commissioners report that £504 dues (quarter ended 31 March 1880) were down compared to corresponding period last year. A suggestion to reduce their clerk's responsibility and consequently his wages from £60 to £35 per annum was accepted. Reduction of police from five to three men. Estimates were: Clerk, £35; Steamer, £45 Police, £113 Office expenses: £12.”