Looking Back - news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
Trawling condemned by local fisherman
From the Groat of July 6, 1923
A sitting of the Trawling (Scotland) Committee was held in Wick, with evidence coming from fishermen based at Cromarty, Helmsdale, Wick, Ackergill, Keiss and Thurso.
According to the report, "the witnesses were unanimous as to the serious depletion of the inshore grounds since trawlers began to come in after the war. They suggested better policing in prohibited areas."
Trawling, seine netting and cod netting were all blamed by line fishermen for the dramatic drop-off in their catches and they repeatedly alleged that vessels carrying out these types of fishing did so within the three-mile limit.
Eric Bremner, Wick, told the meeting that he had had to abandon line fishing when trawling began.
He explained that when he started 40 years previously, he used to regularly catch up to a ton of haddocks each time he went to sea but latterly his catch had dropped to 10 or 15 cod.
The local fishermen maintained that the trawlers were destroying the spawning beds, with William Inrig, from Keiss, saying that the trawlers came in at night, sweeping the inshore clear of herring and cod. He said the spawning beds, from Noss Head to Keiss, should be properly protected.
The fishermen also gave evidence that their equipment had been damaged or destroyed by trawling operations.
Drinks bill boosted hospitality costs
From the Groat of July 6, 1973
The high cost of hospitality to visiting members of the Scottish Police Federation had been raised at a meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee.
It was revealed by chairman Alexander Rugg that at a "luncheon for 30 visitors" at Wick's Station Hotel the drinks bill alone had come to £60.
Mr John Young remarked that this was a "substantial amount of money which the ratepayers would have to pay".
County clerk Mr RH Stevenson had made the arrangements for the event and he said it was standard practice to allow a drink before and after the meal.
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However, on this occasion "hospitality seems to have extended well after the meal was over".
When challenged, Mr Stevenson said he could not remember who had made the decision to "give these people drink".
Mr Rugg maintained the council "would have to think twice before extending a similar invitation again", while Provost WS Smith caustically remarked that if the invitation was to be repeated "they should make sure their guests were tee-total".
Meanwhile, the Caithness Education Committee agreed to install telephones at Bower, Canisbay and John O'Groats schools, even though they were "due to be replaced in the near future".
It was considered that phones were "vital to isolated schools".
Lifeboat station honour
From the Groat of July 10, 1998
Wick lifeboat station was to recive a top award for its sterling service to mariners.
The honour, announced by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, officially recognised a formidable 150 years of service.
The station, established in 1848 by the British Fishery Society and taken over by the RNLI almost 50 years later, had a distinguished record.
Over the years the lifeboat's achievements had earned it six silver medals for bravery – two of them to the same man, Captain Tudor, while coxswains Neil Stewart and Donald Mackay had received bronze medals in 1942 and 1984 respectively.
More recently Coxswain Walter McPhee and acting second cox Ian Cormack had received the "Thanks of the Institution on Vellum" for their part in the rescue of a fishing crew.
The latest award was to be presented during a service at Wick Old Parish Church in October.
Meanwhile a Thurso band was preparing to play a dream gig at T in The Park.
Buddha Crush, comprising Brian Farquhar, Richie Henderson and Lewis Scroggie, had earned a place on the talent stage at the Kinross festival after winning a competition heat in Inverness with more points than any other heat winners in Scotland.
It was reported that the band was heading south armed only with some alcohol donated by Fraser's and high hopes of a successful weekend.
