Looking across to Staffin Island, once known as Fladaigh (Flat Isle, from Norse) you see two small bothies and upright poles for drying nets. The latter were typical of commercial salmon-fishing stations. The fishermen used to stay in the bothies.

Do you know the tune ‘The Hut on Staffin Island’ which was composed by Scottish musician Phil Cunningham?

During the summer, this type of fishing was done by anchoring a series of net systems along the coast. The fishermen would use a distinctive open boat called a coble. This industry has declined in recent years.

LOCAL HISTORIAN AND FISHERMAN LACHIE GILLIES RECALLS THE IMPORTANCE OF FISHING FOR THE LOCALITY IN THE 20th CENTURY, AND THE VARIOUS METHODS OF FISHING, INCLUDING THE ‘BIG LINE’ FISHING AND LOBSTER CREEL MAKING. A FULLER ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF FISHING IN STAFFIN CAN BE FOUND ON THE STAFFIN DATA ATLAS. THIS CD-ROM MAY BE ACCESSED AT THE COLUMBA 1400 CENTRE.

Cho cudromach ’s a bha an t-iasgach

"Bha iasgach air leth cudromach do chor muinntir an àite anns a’ chiad leth dhen 20mh linn. B’ e iasgach nan giomach bu chudromaiche ann an seo san linn sin, agus às a dhèidh bha na lìn- mhòra. Às dèidh an Dàrna Cogaidh, b’ e tràlaigeadh an dòigh a thàinig gu ìre san dùthaich air fad. Tha an tràlaigeadh air an t-iasgach uile a sgrios.

Suas gu àm a’ Chiad Chogaidh, dheigheadh na fir ann am bàtaichean siùil de 75/80 troigh a dh’fhaid cho fad ris a’ Chòrn, Èirinn a Deas, Eilean Mhanainn agus Sealtainn air tòir an sgadain agus an rionnaich."

Na lìn-mhòra

"Na lìn-mhòra a chanamaid – ag iasgach sna h-uisgeachan domhainn. Aon uair ’s gun tigeadh an t-Earrach bhathas a’ cleachdadh na dòigh iasgaich seo air tòir an èisg mhòir. Bha an t-iasg mòr a’ ciallachadh càrnag, trosg, liutha, sgait, langa agus iasg cus nas motha. Gheibhte an t-iasg mòr còig no sia mìle bhon chladach.

An lìon-mhòr fhèin -’s e ròpa caol a bh’ innte no sreang thiugh le snòdan agus dubhain. Bha iad air am biadhadh le sgadan ùr. Bhiodh còignear ann an criutha gach bàta, gach fear le a bhasgaid fhèin leis na lìn-mhòra sin."

A’ dèanamh clèibh ghiomach

"Nuair a bha mise òg, bhiodh na fir a’ dèanamh an clèibh fhèin bho thùs gu èis. Bha làr fiodh air an t-seann seòrsa clèibh; ’s e calltainn a bha sna cearcaill air an còmhdach le cainb air fhighe. Bha sùil ann an cliabh ghiomach (mu chòig òirlich) le biadhadh rionnaich no saoithein agus sreang biadhaidh."