100 YEARS AGO
SHETLAND NEWS, FEBRUARY 1898
February 19
We understand that Mr Alex Ronaldson, fishcurer, intends to erect new kippering premises at Garthspool, Lerwick, from plans prepared by Mr. A. Munro, architect Wick.
February 20
The smack Cuxwold of Lerwick, was exposed for sale at Garthspool on Monday. There was no reserve, and the vessel was knocked down at £71 to Mr Andrew Robertson, spirit merchant.
February 26 (Scalloway)
The boats have been out every day this week unless today (Friday), when a strong breeze of wind from about S.E. has hindered them getting out. Catches of haddocks have this week been a little better, ranging from 10 cwts. and down. It is expected that the St Gilles will be around here for haddocks tomorrow. It is reported that some Sand boats have been working cod lines on the inner deeps, and catches of as many as 150 cod have been landed.
75 YEARS AGO
SHETLAND NEWS, FEBRUARY 1923
February 22
The first winter herrings to be landed at Lerwick this season were brought in on Friday last by the PD. liner Guiding Star, which had secured a catch of about 14 crans. She retained half of the catch for bait, and the remainder was disposed of at 34s, and were chiefly used for kippering. On Tuesday the same vessel arrived with a shot of 57 crans, of which 50 crans, were sold privately for 12s to Messrs. T. Brown & Coy, for curing purposes. The Guiding Star also landed some three score of long line fish, chiefly saithe, and a few cod. The cod sold up to 2s 8d each, averaging 2s, and the saithe 5d to 8d each.
The steam trawler Strathlochie, A. 596, came into Lerwick on Tuesday afternoon, when the skipper reported that he had been seven days at sea, three of which he had been driving before the gales. He stated that exceptionally rough weather had been experienced in the North Sea. The first land picked up was the Noup of Noss. The only damage the trawler had sustained was the wheelhouse windows smashed and gas fittings carried away.
50 YEARS AGO
SHETLAND NEWS, FEBRUARY 1948
February 5
Mr George W. B. Leslie, the well known herring boat owner and skipper, has been chosen as the Shetland delegate to go with other British fishermen to Norway to study the organisation and methods of operations of the Norwegian herring industry.
February 12
The local drifter Gossawater went out to the south east grounds last Thursday night, but owing to the weather conditions she 'halled' her nets almost immediately. Her catch was about a bucketful of herrings. The drifter went off again on Friday night but did not set her to gear. Another trial on Monday night of this week resulted in a catch of about a basket of herrings. The Gossawater tried the north grounds on Tuesday night.
February 26
Fishing for cod off the West Side last week-end, the new boat Enterprise got such a weight of fish in her seine net that it burst and the catch, estimated at five to six tons, was lost. Only about half a ton were got on board. On Monday of this week, the Whalsay boat Day Dawn lost her seine net and three coils of bush-rope which had become entangled in a sunken wreck off Fetlar.
25 YEARS AGO
SHETLAND NEWS, FEBRUARY 1973
February 23
Lerwick fire brigade were called to the pier on Wednesday afternoon when a radio call warned that a Peterhead fishing boat was being towed into the harbour with a fire on board.
The boat, the Replenish had been east of Shetland when fire broke out in her engine room and she radioed for help. The nearest boat to her, the Peterhead boat Challenger, immediately came to her assistance, taking her in tow and heading for Lerwick.
By the time the boats made harbour the crew of the Replenish had the fire under control and it only remained for the Lerwick brigade to complete the job.
10 YEARS AGO
SHETLAND FISHING NEWS, FEBRUARY 1988
Alting Seafoods, situated at Browns Road, Lerwick, is now ready to resume salmon processing, following a deal which has given Shetland Sea Farms of Trondra a 75 per cent share holding in the business. The remaining shares are held by Mr Arthur Nicolson who will continue as Managing Director, Garry Anderson and Bobby McPherson.
The stern trawler Vega (skipper Russell Smith) has resumed fishing after having alterations carried out in her hold and engine room. She has been fitted with a chilling system which will improve the keeping qualities of her catch even when fishing on distant water grounds. This was carried out by JFM Electrical and Refrigeration Ltd of Lerwick who sub-contracted part of the work to Malakoff and William Moore Ltd and L & M Engineering.
A large number of fishermen joined relatives and other friends in Scalloway's Church of Scotland on Friday 4th February to pay their last respects to John R. (Ian) Smith of Oaklea, Scalloway. Ian had been unwell since 12th November last year when he was put ashore at Walls from the Evening Star, on which he was a crew member.