Fisheries memorial

I had to pop dow north to Ness this afternoon, so I visited the new memorial to the fisheries industry in Port of Ness. This was set up last year to commemorate all those involved in the fishing industry in the north of Lewis - the fishermen, the onshore handlers, those who built the harbour - everybody. Port of Ness was established as a fishing centre in 1827, resulting eventually in the first built harbour in rural Lewis. I was reminded, not only of the numerous losses of fishing boats in storms etc, but that in 1849 a boat from my own village with six crew aboard, went missing in calm weather - the victim of a press gang! Life at sea has always been tough!