Nairn
September 22, 2020
22 Sep 20. HM 105. (Oatcake quiz answer at the bottom!)
In 1886 Nairn was called "the Brighton of Scotland". It certainly has something quirky and relaxed about it, rather like the friendly Harbour Master - Robbie Barron. To enter the harbour, you have to be patient, the entrance is up a narrow river which all but dries out at low water.
To understand Nairn, you need to understand fish. The local Moray Firth is full of mackerel, herring, cod, haddock, flatfish, squid, scallops, crabs, lobster, rays and even sharks. A complicated eco-system - it's a spawning ground for plaice, a nursery area for herring and a breeding ground for cod.
Pre WW1, the local fishing industry was predominantly catching and salting herring for export to Germany and Russia. Many wives followed the fishing fleets for 9 weeks every year travelling to Lerwick, Fraserburgh, Yarmouth and Lowestoft gutting 60-70 herring a minute and packing them into barrels. Back in 1860 the Nairn harbour supported 410 men with 105 local boats engaged in fishing. The objective was to earn a year's income during the 6-week herring season. They clearly needed to drink a lot of low tax whisky (Photo 8)!
There is a thought provoking statue in the harbour - The Nairn Fishwife. It is based on Annie Ralph, one of the last Nairn fishwives. They sold their salted fish from baskets, walking up to 5 miles a day. You had to marry well in Nairn to survive!
Robbie fished for 27 years before becoming HM. Photo 6 shows his boat. He caught sprats in the 1970s selling them to the Russian Klondyke ships (see my post on Mallaig). He knows firsthand that Nairn is one of the safest harbours in the Moray Firth and it is not surprising he has 46 boats on the waiting list for moorings. Thank you Robbie for hosting us - and for going out to catch a HUGE lobster for Good Dog's crew!
Quiz Answer: In 1896 John and Sarah Nairn opened their bakery in Strathaven (south of Glasgow) and sold their Oatcakes - so nothing to do with Nairn!!
In 1886 Nairn was called "the Brighton of Scotland". It certainly has something quirky and relaxed about it, rather like the friendly Harbour Master - Robbie Barron. To enter the harbour, you have to be patient, the entrance is up a narrow river which all but dries out at low water.
To understand Nairn, you need to understand fish. The local Moray Firth is full of mackerel, herring, cod, haddock, flatfish, squid, scallops, crabs, lobster, rays and even sharks. A complicated eco-system - it's a spawning ground for plaice, a nursery area for herring and a breeding ground for cod.
Pre WW1, the local fishing industry was predominantly catching and salting herring for export to Germany and Russia. Many wives followed the fishing fleets for 9 weeks every year travelling to Lerwick, Fraserburgh, Yarmouth and Lowestoft gutting 60-70 herring a minute and packing them into barrels. Back in 1860 the Nairn harbour supported 410 men with 105 local boats engaged in fishing. The objective was to earn a year's income during the 6-week herring season. They clearly needed to drink a lot of low tax whisky (Photo 8)!
There is a thought provoking statue in the harbour - The Nairn Fishwife. It is based on Annie Ralph, one of the last Nairn fishwives. They sold their salted fish from baskets, walking up to 5 miles a day. You had to marry well in Nairn to survive!
Robbie fished for 27 years before becoming HM. Photo 6 shows his boat. He caught sprats in the 1970s selling them to the Russian Klondyke ships (see my post on Mallaig). He knows firsthand that Nairn is one of the safest harbours in the Moray Firth and it is not surprising he has 46 boats on the waiting list for moorings. Thank you Robbie for hosting us - and for going out to catch a HUGE lobster for Good Dog's crew!
Quiz Answer: In 1896 John and Sarah Nairn opened their bakery in Strathaven (south of Glasgow) and sold their Oatcakes - so nothing to do with Nairn!!