Trip to Scotland 1983: Four and half months in the Highlands and Islands

**DCampbell16B** · 20th August 23, 12:37 PM

That's good. I was hoping the statute of limitations had run out.

**DCampbell16B** · 21st August 23, 03:48 AM

https://postimg.cc/D41zYy11

Drawing shows how boats were anchored. If a net was illegally set and had to be hidden, all one had to do was drop a weight on the donut shaped float and the whole thing would sink to invisibility.

**DCampbell16B** · 25th August 23, 10:09 AM

Walked by an old stone house and found a salmon net. Water incredibly clear. Can do marine bio studies w/out gear. Just look in water. Ate lunch spam and Heinz sandwich spread. Went to Stornoway for some supplies. Found French family w/ VW camper stuck in mud [they had gotten just a wheel or two off the roadway]. Tried to help but needed tractor. Ground is peat and couldn't hold van. Came back from Stornoway and they were out. Ate supper Scots meat pies and chips. I cut chips and packed pot and car [unclear] for tomorrow. Evening lifted motor then net, as even poaching is not done on a Sunday. A fell in. 1 dogfish and some 1000 jellyfish. Came back and overhauled motor [I know that sounds like I was helping, but I don't know much about engines and I probably just handed tools and nodded sagely]. 2 thatched buildings in Breaclete. Old buildings near net. One ½ in hill and dirt w/ side and fence. Net near old place at A's Aunt. She lives with Iain Tom now very near. Will reset net Monday morning before going to Ness.

**stickman** · 25th August 23, 10:39 AM

Looks like you were getting quite proficient at poaching.

I was pretty good at it when I was an apprentice. Made more money from a box of shotgun shells than I made working a 48 hour week. It’s fun ain’t it?

**Jock Scot** · 26th August 23, 01:45 AM

To be serious for a wee moment. Perhaps some outwith the UK may not understand that poaching is not always regarded as some quaint form of “feeding the starving family” and “just a bit of a lark”. Poaching is a form of theft and is still to this day regarded as such in the UK and is reinforced with fairly strict laws on the matter.

**DCampbell16B** · 26th August 23, 05:15 AM

@Jock Scot is absolutely right, and I'm glad he has made the point that the seriousness of the crime is still true (and why I made my apologies beforehand for describing my involvement!). I was aware of this before I left for Scotland, which is why I noticed the poaching and why I made notes about it. As I wrote in a previous entry above, it was explained to me that the Lewis Islanders were quite a bit more likely to do this than other areas in Scotland. More of the land was held in common, I think giving rise to the attitude that the sea and the salmon there were also more to be held in common. The things that they did to avoid detection, both for themselves, and to warn others, were actions that I made a note of because it was so different than what I had known and expected to be the case about poaching. The net that I accidently found belonged to someone else. The fact that I found one just reinforced that.

I have not read ahead, but I know there are at least a few more comments about the taking of the salmon. When you read (whoever you are) these notes, please bear in mind Jock Scot's remarks.

And please, anyone is welcome to add to this string. Especially if it can highlight the differences, or lack of changes, between 40 years ago and now. I do hope it is being enjoyed.