The fisherman is one of the archetypes of Scottish life. His is an image reinforced now by pictures from the past, by sepia photographs of harbours forested with the masts of herring drifters, as well as by stories of dramatic disasters and rescues.
'Salt in the Blood' traces the rise of Scotland's fishing communities and describes their present precarious position. As the book shows, the seas around the Scottish coast are fertile but winning a livelihood from them has never been easy. Over generations, the pursuit of fishing created a series of distinctive close-knit communities, with their own customs and traditions.
Many harbours now serve as marinas, and warehouses and markets are homes to heritage centres. The fishing is now centres on a few major ports and the modern skipper is often a businessman in charge of a vessel worth several million pounds. The fishing communities themselves are in a state of flux and often pervaded by a sense of grievance. The efficiency of the modern fleet and the political demands of the European Union have brought about a crisis, but it is not a situation without hope for Scotland's hunters of the sea.
Contents:
Preface
Ackowledgements
1. The Old Communities
- A Society Quite Distinct
- A Fishertoun in Every Parish
- Yellow Butterflies
- Cauld Iron
2. Sail and Storm
- You'll see the Stern Going One Way and the Bow the Other
- The Easiest Name to Paint
- General Deepening and Improving
- A Bit Extra
3. Lines and Hooks
- Sa Gret Plente is of Fische
- A Young Man's Job
- Baiting's Okay, it's Getting the Bait
4. Silver Darlings
- A Game of Hazard
- A White Horse!
- The Herrin' it is the Fish for Me
- Nothing that Man is Likely to do is Likely to Diminish the General Stock of Herrings
5. From Sail to Engine
- An Efficient Fishing Machine
- Creels and Oysters
6. Between the Wars
- A Sea Fit for Heroes
- Each Man £1 to Take Home
- Black Outlook for the Fishermen
- Get Up and Tie Your Fingers!
7. Distant Waters
- Three-haak Halibut
- 10s 6d a Day
- Migratory, Nomadic Fishermen
- A Fixed Way of Life
8. Changed at Sea
- A Total Adventure
- The Jungle and the Burma Road
- The Killer Method
- More Power
- The Burning
- At the Prawns
- Queer Fish
9. Cod Wars
- Territorial Waters
- Blockade
- Last of the Drifters
- Pound Signs in Front of Their Eyes
10. Saving the Fish
- Total Allowable Catch
- Black Fish
- There Are no Fishermen in London
- Salt in the Blood
Notes on Sources
Weights and Measures
Bibliography
Index
