Herring boats setting out from Wick, c1880s

Herring boats setting out from Wick, c1880s

ID: QZP40_UNKNOWN_030 DESCRIPTION: Fishing boats setting out from Wick, circa 1880s. Once one of the main herring ports in the north of Scotland, the herring industry at Wick reached its peak between 1860 and 1890, when as many as 1000 boats were based at the harbour. The fishing boats employed around 6000 fishermen and provided work for an additional 6000 workers, including women who gutted, salted and layered the herring in barrels. Failure to attempt to conserve stock contributed to the herring being fished out by the early 1900s. By 1930 there were less than 30 fishing boats working out of the harbour. PLACENAME: Wick OLD COUNTY/PARISH: CAITHNESS: Wick CREATOR (AV): George Washington Wilson PERIOD: 1880s SOURCE: Highland Libraries Asset ID: 46367 KEYWORDS: