Barra fishing fleet
These sailing boats are fishing for herring having set out from Castlebay in Barra. The island of Vatersay shelters Castlebay making it one of the best natural harbours in the Western Isles, and in 1869 James Methuen, one of the biggest herring-curers in Scotland, chose Castlebay as a herring port. In the 19th and early 20th century the Scottish herring fishery expanded and exceeded its European rivals to become the biggest fishery in the world. Castlebay was one of the two main bases for the herring fishery on the West Coast of Scotland, which were especially important for the early summer season in May and June. At its peak up to 2,000 people were involved in the herring industry in Barra.
