Landing the catch and unloading the boat

Photo 400       

Fascadale 1976

This photogragh was taken from the headland at Fascadale looking down as the new coble OB226 “Iolair” turned into Fascadale bay on a Saturday morning. You can tell it’s a Saturday because the boat is carrying bundles of dirty “leaders” The leader was the part of the bagnet that had to be removed by mid day on Saturday to prevent the nets from catching fish over the “closed hours” (1200 Saturday to 0600 Monday) The boat is crewed by four, Paul Taylor, steering at the stern, Rhoddy Macleod at the engine controls amidships, then Eic Dobson and Mike Barret furthest forward.

Photo 401       

Fascadale 1976

The returning coble, with its load of dirty nets and a box of fish has been steered to lie alongside the beach to be unloaded. Whilst two of the crew hold the boat in position, the third Eric, has set off up the beach to drag down the heavy cargo sledge

Photo 402        

Fascadale 1976

The crew are now getting the six dirty leaders, one from each bagnet, out of the boat and onto a pile on the sledge. These nets had been in the water for six days: they were often covered in slime, strung with seaweed and sometimes with a coating of red jellyfish. They were each a two man lift. Once they were on the sledge and being towed up the beach one person had to stay on each side to ensue that the heavy unbalanced load didn’t topple. The sledge was towed to net green where the leaders were unloaded and then each spread evenly out for cleaning and repair.

Photo 403                  

Fascadale 1976

The dirty nets are off the boat and onto the sledge so now the catch is being handed ashore. A box like this would be holding maybe 12 fish, maybe 100lbs, so a two man lift up the beach.