As part of his duties, John Dumble was responsible for hiring the women who would gut and prepare the herring for curing not only at Spittal where Messers Boston Brothers were based but also at other ports which supplied them with herring. On 19 April 1920, John Dumble employed 19 women at Yarmouth to work for the 1920 herring fishing season. They included Rose Humbling, Nellie Macdonald and Eleanor Symonds.

The “herring girls” ,as they were known, followed the fishing fleet down the east coast to Yarmouth, often staying in one port no more than a couple of weeks. They were expected to clean, gut and pack the fish in brine. The work was exhausting In this agreement, signed by each of the workers, there is no indication of their wages or their duties. However, some of the girls were so quick and good at the job that they could earn up to 10 shillings ( 50 pence ) per day.