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Shetland fishermen built their own boats from Norwegian kits...

Date 25 September 1974
Track ID 76933
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1974.201.A10

Original Tape ID

SA1974.201

Summary

Shetland fishermen built their own boats from Norwegian kits, with the wood chosen on a superstitious basis.

Fishermen had to supply their own boats and had to barter their lines from the laird. The boats usually came in wooden kit form from Norway and were assembled in Shetland. The wood cost 30 bob [shillings] and was bought by a man with knowledge of wood, who could identify fishy knots and windy knots and such different features of the wood. He might take enough wood for several boats at one go.

Recording Location

County - Shetland

Parish - Dunrossness

Island - Shetland Mainland

Village/Place - Bigton

Item Location

County - Shetland

Non Scottish Item Location

Norway

Non Scottish Item Location

Nirribhidh

Language

English, Scots

Genre

Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good