Fishing

From the earliest hunter gatherers who settled here in around 7,000 BC, to the modern day, the sea and the fish that live in it have provided a rich resource to the people of Scotland. The country is almost totally surrounded by the sea and has a coastline which provides many sheltered inlets and natural harbours to protect boats and around these fishing towns and villages grew up. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream flow up past the west coast too mixing with the cold waters of the Atlantic, creating a bonanza of diversity of fish species which able to make our coast their home.
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By medieval times fishing in Scotland was a major industry with herring being exported to the continent and from this base the industry grew and grew, becoming specialised and employing thousands as fishermen or in supporting roles in preparation, transport and retail not to mention boat building. The industry saw hard times too with many fishermen being transferred into the Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and severe competition from Dutch and Scandinavian fishing fleets. Despite these setbacks by the 19th century the industry was one of the largest and most successful throughout Great Britain. 

The reason for this success was the herring, a fatty fish, which was massively abundant off the coast of Scotland which could be easily cured and transported across Europe (Scottish herring was particularly in demand in Germany and Russia). By the end of the 19th century, thanks to the herring, the Scottish fishing industry was the largest in Europe with thousands of boats and with beaches, harbours and quaysides lined with girls gutting and cleaning the catch. The demand for experienced sailors during the two world wars combined with new fishing methods and more efficient vessels saw the number of boats and men working in the sector decline and by 1945 the industry was a shadow of what it had been. 

In modern times the Scottish fishing industry has been increasingly hammered by poor support from Government, European regulations and international legislation. All this combined with falling fish stocks have devastated the industry, with the entire fleet almost gone completely from the south west of Scotland as it consolidates itself around the large north eastern ports such as Aberdeen and Peterhead. In Ayrshire towns such as Irvine and Ayr, once important hubs in the region for the local fishing industry, harbours are empty of working boats and even the once important fish market at Ayr has closed leaving only the one at Troon, where a few boats still hold on by catching prawns and whitefish. A depressing state for an industry which once went unrivalled anywhere in Europe in size of both fleet and catch. 

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Haaf-net Fishers near the Solway
On shores of the Solway and the estuaries of the rivers that flow into it fish come and go with the
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Bringing the Boats in
This glass lantern slide has captured a scene showing 19th century  Ayrshire fishermen bringing thei
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Fishing Boats (1)
19th century Ayrshire Fishing boats
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Fishing Boats
19th century Ayrshire fishing skiffs at the quay side.
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Leister
Three-pronged spear used for fishing, especially salmon.  The leister was a popular piece of poachin
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Salt scoop
This carved wooden object is a salt scoop for preserving fish. It was used by Stranraer herring fish
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Merlin's point
Cone-shaped wooden tool used by seamen to open ropes.
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Glass fishing floats
Hollow glass fishing floats used to support fishing nets and to mark lobster pots for retrieval from
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Notice to Fishermen
Regulations for the herring boats fishing in Scottish waters.  All boats and sails, buoys and floats
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