Grey Hen's Well: A Suitable Craft

Sunday, August 2, 2020

A Suitable Craft

Written by Alexander Gunn, A Native of Badbea, and published in the Northern Ensign, August 17, 1882. Part B

Fisher Boys Newhaven, Hill & Adamson Abt 1845

"About this time four of us young chaps – a younger brother of mine, and two sons of a neighbour of ours – got possession of a half crown each, and we were anxious for an investment, and the most profitable we could think of was a boat to fish for ourselves. Two of our number were dispatched in search of one, and after going to Ramscraigs, they fell in with what they considered a very suitable craft in the shape of the forepart of an old herring fishing boat cut through in the middle at the main thaft, the end of which was closed in with boards".

Boats on the beach Newhaven Hill and Adamson Abt 1845

"This craft was taken home to Traifhad in due time, but we considered it too high for us and we lowered it down by two streaks, and put a new gunwale on. We had thus everything we required to fit our boat for the sea, except for a few pints of tar. We found out that the shepherd at Ousdale had some tar, and we bargained with one of his sons to get what we wanted for a clasp knife. I and another of our crew set off to Ousdale, got our ball of tar, and took our road home, but when about half way who makes his appearance but the lad’s father, who questioned us as to where we got the tar. We told him how we came by it, and were allowed to go, but how it fared with the son we never heard".

Fishing Boats at Berrydale 1820 William Daniell

"This was the ugliest and clumsiest craft that ever sailed on the wide ocean, but the most fortunate in the way of catching fish. One night, however, as we came in late with a haul of cod, we left the ugly animal some-what nearer the edge of the tide than usual, as we intended to start early next morning; but during the night a breeze of wind sprung up, and when we went down to the shore all our hopes were blasted, as the precious prize lay in fragments along the beach. There was a great lamentation among us young folks, but my father was right glad, as he never liked our cobble, and could never be induced to put his feet in it".

My Comments:

Modifying a craft and catching fish to sell seemed like a great plan to the Badbea boys. But their funds were limited and the old herring boat they bought was a bit dodgy. But in the same spirit as cars are modified today, with their boat these boys ‘fixed its arse and lowered it!’

But where to get tar?

Tar is a black, oily, sticky, substance, derived from organic materials such as pine wood, peat or coal.

Tar was used at that time to preserve wooden sailing vessels against rot and make them leak proof. Boats that sprung a leak while out fishing took in water and sunk, with obvious disastrous results for the occupants. Tar was also used to help preserve fishing nets while they were in the water.

Alexander Gunn doesn’t tell what sort of tar he and his mates managed to get hold of. But considering the busy ship building industry in Wick and other parts of Scotland I think it is probable that tar was imported in barrels from Sweden. And there was some down the track at Ousdale. Great.

Bargaining one of their clasp knives was quite a significant trade for boys who valued such possessions and they didn’t want to have to give the tar back to the Ousdale shepherd. So they took what they could and didn’t ask too many more questions.

But while the boat the boys modified was a creative project it sounds like it was also very dangerous and father John Gunn was glad to see the end of it.