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We are
grateful to the North Tolsta Historical Society for the following
information about the Brothers Delight, which was provided by Tolsta
resident Angus ‘Siugaidh’ MacLeod who recalled the fishing there:
“The
Brothers Delight (SY 148) was the last new Ness-built boat to come to
Tolsta. It was built in 1920 for Donald MacLeod, General merchant (Dòmhnull
Aonghais Sàighdeir). It had an 18½ foot keel and was roughly 28 to 30
foot long overall. It cost £120 to build.
“It was
used for great lines, small lines and drift net fishing. Its sail was
some 40 square yards of canvas, and it had six oars. Eight of a crew
worked it out from Cladach bGiordal, mostly for haddock fishing. It was
sold to Galson in 1936 and eventually broken up, and that was the end of
her.”
Commenting on this type of boat, Angus MacLeod added: “The ‘sgoth
Niseach’ was the best boat ever built for fishing and safety, providing
you had a good and alert skipper. The sgoth could carry a good catch of
haddock and herring. I, myself, saw her coming ashore on Tolsta beach
with 14 crans of herring [about 1,000 to 1,100 herring in a cran].
“In the
early twenties they fished in Stornoway Loch with her, as it was full of
herring, even as far as Bayhead. The herring was that plentiful that
they were coming ashore. The crew fished all week, staying in lodgings
and coming home at weekends – walking home of course, fourteen miles
home and fourteen miles back on Monday mornings. They were there for
the winter season and did well. They then sailed her back again round
Tiumpan Head, across Broad Bay and beached and hauled her up on Tolsta
Shore – Cladach Ghiordail.
“Then
they had a well earned rest.”
This item
originally appeared in the North Tolsta Historical Society's quarterly
newsletter, Seanchas (No. 56, Autumn 2007) |
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