 A small, perhaps transient, population of fishermen occupied the island following the dissolution of the monastery, specialising in pilchard fishing.There are the remains of a chapel atop the island, which later became a "huers hut" — a place where fishermen would make a "hue and cry" call to inform other fishermen of shoals of pilchards.During this period smuggling, wrecking and piracy were common, benefiting from a natural barrier for half the day.