THE HERRING FLEET

This photo (probably) came from Stromness Museum and shows the number of Herring Fishing Boats around Stromness Harbour in about the 1890s.  On the left of the picture you can see a lot of boats all tied up together on the small piers; there would be many more out of sight (in this picture) along the shoreline. At the time the photo was taken Herring was still the main industry here and most of Stromness was involved in the fishing and packing of herring then.  
The herring stocks were completely overfished by the 1930s.

Extras:  
1. The same view but taken about 2016 by Husband.  There is only one fishing boat shown and this one has a motor.
2. Sail boats today down at the Marina - they are all leisure boats.
3. This afternoon down at the harbour - no fishing boats, but you can see a lot of the small piers and slipways where the fishing boats would have tied up, a century ago.