The heritage of Scottish fishingJoe Wilson was a fisherman all his life. He lived in Portknockie and his ancestors did the same. In 1996 I interviewed him and recorded  over four hours of his and his ancestors fishing experiences. He also  had an extensive photo album  which captured many unique photos of the developments and evolution of the fishing industry in the North East of Scotland,from the Zulu sailing fishing boat through to the factory ships.Herring quines work.This clip features  us speaking about the herring industry and in particular the Herring Quines that followed the shoals of herring from the northern Isles right down to Yarmouth.He tells of  the scale of the work that required four train loads of herring Quines to service the requirements of that industry in its hay day.The quines had to work long hours in cold miserable weather standing at the farlings in the open air. Most of the herring were salted and exported to the Baltic area. The herring season was one of the most industrious sectors of the fishing industry. Joe's story of this part of our Scottish heritage is captivating and he tells the story in his own canny way.Find out more by going to our website www.scottishheritage.co.uk 

Scottish Heritage Audio recordings

Joe Wilson Fisherman speaks aboot the Herring Fishwives

This audio recording done in the Doric dialect of Aberdeenshire features Don Carney discussing how the cattle were looked after during the  time they were housed in the farm byre. He chats to local Aberdeenshire farmer Henry Grey when he is sorting the nowt in his byre. Henry describes all the tasks done starting with scraping out the forestaa and finishing with swiping the greep. The cattle were brought in to the byre in October and were tied up two in a staa until they were fat and sold or it was May the following year when they went back out side for the summer. The Byre was work was done twice each day. Once in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. It was a constant task to provide the nowt with food. Neeps had to be pooed and carted home to the neep shed. Hay had to be brought by cart from the rucks in the corn yard to the barn. The corn for bruisin was obtained from the weekly barn thrash. The trash also produced straw for bedding.The muck produced over this period of time was a valuable fertiliser resource for the farm. It was barrowed  out to the open midden.The cattle that fattened  were loaded into the cattle float and taken into Belmont mart in Aberdeen and sold to be killed. Farmers were and are very much part of the nations food chain and have always made a great contribution to the economy.There was something very rewarding about working in the byre seeing the cattle thrive and building up a relationship with them. They were born to be killed that was the harsh reality for farmers. Pride in their work was paramount and the effective care and husbandry that prevailed on farmers made the farmers reputation.

The farm byre during the 1950s

Don Carney recites a poem which he has written to celebrate the way of life in agriculture when the Clydesdale horse was the main source of power on Aberdeenshire farms. It features a horseman looking back to his past and reminisces about his role as a Horseman on the farm at a time when the first horseman on a farm was seen as a man at the top of his trade. The poem provides examples of life work and situations which were once common and can all be linked to the Clydesdale horse era. The poem is delivered in the Doric dialect of Aberdeenshire which can be understood by any English speaker.

A Horseman's Memories 1940s

Don talks with a local North East farmer while he works in the byre. We hear about the different task involved in looking after the cattle from October to May when they are tied up in the byre. The audio is in the Doric dialect of Aberdeenshire. This can be understood by any English speaker.

Sorting Nowt

Audio which captures various aspects of a past Scottish cultural identity relating to the life and work of the ordinary rural person dating from the beginning of the 1900s.

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Scottish Heritage Audio recordings

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