in development
Farming
Ferries
(National Gazetter 1868)
Fishing
In 1842, The Revered John Gerard produced a statistical account of the Parish of South Ronaldsay and Burray. It included a section on industry and had this to say about fishing:
Before the herring-fishing began, the people fished skrae or sillocks, podlies, and sold them by thousands,—taking other fish for their own families. Now, much of their time is employed in preparing for herring-fishing, and less is done in laying in store for their own families. Bad weather prevents the boats from going to sea in the winter season; insomuch that I have known when there was not so much fish taken during five months, as would furnish one meal to each inhabitant of the united parishes, and when even the cormorants died for want of food. At other times, the influx of small fish into some bays was such, that nets took them up with ease, and in great abundance for some weeks…
In 1838, there were 245 herring-boats, belonging to the united parishes, and 4066 barrels were cured. Could the curers have 4s. clear on each barrel, this would make L.813 of clear gain. (see Picken 1972: 70)
Later Gerard turns to cod fishing reporting that this began in 1817. By 1842 there appeared to be ‘eleven sloops belonging to this parish are employed in it. In 1838, there were 116 tons, 16£ cwt. of cod, ling, and hake fish dried, at L.14 per ton’ (op. cit.: 71). Census records that the population of the parish as 3174 in 1842.
Along with neighbouring Burray, St Margaret’s Hope blossomed with the herring fishing, but the blocking of Water Sound with wrecks during the First World War removed access from the North Sea. The Hope survived as a port of call for the daily steamer between Stromness and Scrabster until the route was changed, and only the 19th century pier reminds of busier days in the harbour. ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Orkney’, (1996).
Farming fish
References
Pciken, S. D. B. (1972).
updated: April 15, 2025