Within the harbour at Lower Largo, historic mooring posts can be seen alongside their modern counterparts. In the image above a gnarly old post can be seen in the left foreground that could be a couple of centuries old. The posts are marked on maps dating back to the mid-1850s and are shown in detail on the 1912 map below.

The map detail includes the words 'Post' and 'Posts' at the harbour mouth. These features mark the Lundie rocks, guiding vessels away from this hazard. There are also several annotations of 'M.P.s' (an abbreviation of mooring posts) to indicate places to tie up vessels - both within the harbour and on the pier itself. On the map the series of mooring posts continues under both the footbridge and the viaduct up to the mill. Some of these posts may be contemporary to the significant work was done on the pier in 1819.

The image above, cropped from a postcard view, clearly shows a series of four posts marking the Lundie Rocks just beyond them. The more modern sketch of Largo Harbour below is also annotated with the poles at the Lundies. 

In the circa 1900 scene above, from a George Washington Wilson photograph, a series of wooden mooring bollards can be clearly seen on the pier. Ships mooring ropes were secured to these bollards, which are positioned some distance from the face of the pier as they had to be founded in a secure part of the structure. The strains imposed on mooring bollards can be severe, particularly when the moored ship is subjected to very strong winds. These stresses are even greater in the case of sailing ships with a considerable windage. The image below shows a topsail schooner with a long mooring line attached to a bollard, likely calling at the harbour in connection with potato trading activity.

In the photograph above of David Ballingall's Forget-Me-Not (a 48.5 feet fishing boat with the registration KY 2011) entering the harbour, wooden fenders can be seen lining the face of the pier. These acted as fenders to protect the stonework and vessel’s hulls from any damage. The highest fending on the pier are what were known as “branders”. These were put in place to protect the paddle steamers from damage by the uneven stonework of the Pier. The branders were of such a height that the paddles were still protected when lying alongside at high water, spring tides.

Largo harbour's distinctive posts even appear in artworks such as the painting above by David Martin and many of the local pieces created by George Leslie Hunter, including the sketch below. No doubt these characterful features continue to inspire artists to this day.

Thomas Cairns was born in Lower Largo on 26 April 1867 to Robert Cairns, a fisherman, and his wife Ann Warrender. His father was originally from Methil and his mother from Buckhaven but in the early 1860s the family had relocated to Drummochy. Thomas was one of ten children. At the time of the 1881 census, fourteen year old Thomas was noted as a scholar, while an elder brother worked at the nearby Oil & Cake Mill and one of his sisters at the Cardy Net Works.

When Thomas left school, the expectation was that he would follow his father into fishing. This was not the occupation that Thomas wanted for himself. However, with money tight and Largo harbour on his doorstep, his first job was indeed fishing in the Forth, alongside other Largo men. Aged sixteen, Thomas took steps to find an alternative option. He, along with another local lad, walked through snow to Pathhead (part of Kirkcaldy) to look for Captain Swan, the skipper of a deep sea trading vessel. The Captain told them to come and join his ship at Dundee.

However, without the necessary funds to travel to Dundee, a disappointed Thomas had to return to the life of a fisherman - at least in the short term. Thomas resolved to save every halfpenny he could towards his eventual move out of Largo. By the age of nineteen, he had accumulated sufficient savings for a single fare to Glasgow and accommodation in a seaman's home for one week. Within days of arriving there, he had signed up on a home trade sailing ship, where earned enough money to send some back home.

With some experience behind him, Thomas eventually achieved his dream of joining a deep sea trader and for a number of years travelled to locations such as the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Baltic. In 1892, aged 25, he married Davina Gillies in Leith. Davina had grown up with Thomas in Lower Largo. She was the daughter of fisherman David Gillies and Christina Abbie, who lived at Defoe Place. In 1893, Thomas and Davina's daughter, and only child, Christina Abbie Cairns was born. Soon afterwards, Thomas gave up his sea-faring job on the Methil-Hamburg trade to be based at Methil Docks - first as berthing master, and later deputy dockmaster. In the 1901 census the family were at East High Street Methil.

Thomas carried out his duties as Bo'ness Harbourmaster for 22 and a half years, before retiring in September 1930. His retirement came about due to a new upper age limit, and his deputy of 17 years, Robert Smith, took over as dockmaster. To mark his retirement, Thomas was entertained by traders, pilots and other officials in the Douglas Hotel and was presented with a wallet of Treasury notes. During the speeches, the changes over time at the docks were highlighted. Notably, during the past year only one solitary sailing vessel had arrived in Bo'ness Dock as compared with 287 of that type in 1908.
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Thomas spent most of his retirement living at Inch Vanie, on Church Road, Leven (pictured above). In 1942, Thomas and Davina celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Several years before this, Thomas had bought a bottle of champagne to put away for this special occasion. However, when the happy day came around, it was the middle of the Second World War, and a champagne celebration felt inappropriate. The couple decided to gift the bottle to Leven Warship Week Committee and offers were invited for the bottle, to support this cause (see 15 April 1942 Leven Mail piece below).

Thomas also made many ships in bottles and was a talented painter. While he created some landscapes, most of his artworks were of the sea or of ships. Thomas said "I have enjoyed every minute of my retirement and one of my greatest likings is to make these models. I make them just for the love of it and then I give them away". On 5 February 1952, Thomas and Davina reached their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Local newspapers noted that the pair were in good health and had three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. However, Davina passed away on 2 August 1953 aged 83 years. Thomas died on 4 January 1955 at the age of 87. The 5 January 1955 Dundee Courier below reported his death at Bridge of Earn hospital. The piece described Thomas as "one of East Fife's best-known personalities in shipping circles". 
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Catherine Selkirk was born in Largo on 29 January 1779 and was baptised two days later in the presence of the congregation of Largo Kirk, as the record below tells us. Her parents were "John Selkirk weaver in Nether Largo and Margaret Martin his spouse". Nether Largo was the name used then for Lower Largo. The above photograph appeared in the book 'Seatoun of Largo' by Ivy Jardine (1982). John Selkirk (Catherine's father) was the son of Alexander Selkirk, who in turn was the son of David Selkirk (or Selcraig), the eldest brother of the famous Alexander Selkirk. This made Catherine 'Robinson Crusoe's' great-grand-niece.
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When Catherine was eight years old her mother Margaret died. The record below shows that she died on 14 December 1787 and was buried on 17 December. Just over a year later, her father John remarried, to Isabel Peattie or Pattie.

So what was life like in Largo around that time?

The Old Statistical Account of 1792, written by the Reverend Mr Spence Oliphant of Largo Kirk, provides some insight to daily life. In terms of health and wellbeing, the account tells of how "coughs are very general, rheumatism and other inflammatory complaints are not infrequent. Epidemic disorders sometimes appear..." often affecting those on "a low and spare diet". The typical diet of the population was described as "meagre broth, potatoes, cheese, butter in small quantities, and a preparation of meal in different forms, make up their constant fare". Meat was generally reserved for "a birth or marriage, or some other festival".
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At the time fish were "scarce" and "at present there is not a fisherman in Largo, and only 1 in Drummochy, who fishes in the summer and catches rabbits in the winter". The pier at Largo was in existence at the time "where vessels of 200 ton may receive or discharge their cargoes". In the Parish there were 3 corn mills, 2 barley mills, 3 lint mills and 2 salt pans. The main industry of the Parish was weaving, of mostly "linens and checks", with every weaver having access to a bleaching ground. The flax was mostly imported but was dressed and spun in the village. The image below provides some impression of how the buildings along the shore at Lower Largo looked at this time, although this particular artwork dates to a several decades later.

The Old Statistical Account also refers specifically to Alexander Selkirk and noted that "the chest and musket which Selkirk had with him on the island, are now in the possession of his grand-nephew, John Selkirk, weaver in Largo", referring to the father of Catherine. Upon the death of John Selkirk, Catherine became the keeper of the relics. These well-travelled artefacts had been left behind by Alexander around 1717 when he departed the village suddenly with Sophia Bruce.

Catherine Selkirk married fisherman/ linen weaver David Gillies in 1799. Some sources state that the couple had thirteen children but it is difficult to be certain as records are incomplete. In the census of 1841 (see extract above) David, Catherine, David junior (a fisherman) and Janet are listed in the household, as well as Catherine's sister Margaret Selkrig, aged 50. David Gillies died in 1846, leaving Catherine a widow. In the 1851 census (below) Catherine was recorded, aged 72, along with the only other member of the household - a 10-year-old grandchild, Christian Gillies. 
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Catherine lived to see the arrival of the railway in Largo in 1857, which must have been momentous for the community. At the time of the 1861 census she was living alone, and she died the following year, on 1 February 1862, just days after her 83rd birthday. Her obituary in the local press spoke of a "pleasant spoken" woman, who had experienced a life of labour and of "toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing". Having lost her mother as a child and predeceased by several children - sorrow was a theme throughout her life, yet this was coupled with a lifelong association with her famous relative and the home in which she lived was surrounded by public interest. 

Among the children who outlived her were:

Margaret Allan nee Gillies (married shoemaker David Allan); born c 1801, died 1876 aged 75
Samuel Gillies (fisherman); born c 1808, died in 1892 aged 84 at Bower House, Lower Largo
Christina Deas nee Gillies (married fisherman John Deas); born c1813,  died 1894 aged 81
James Gillies (fisherman/whaler); born 1816, died 1902 aged 87
Alexander Gillies (fisherman); born c1823, died 1898 aged 76

On her death record below her mother was incorrectly noted as Isabella Peattie, who was actually her step-mother. Her son Samuel registered her death and must have been illiterate as he signed with a cross as 'his mark'. Catherine was buried at the new cemetery very recently opened in the Parish. Soon after her death, the old cottage and birthplace of Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721) was demolished and the current Crusoe Buildings built upon the site. The relics so long cared for by Catherine were sold - finally separated from the birthplace of their former owner.
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It was a great surprise to find the above painting in a Reuse Scotland shop recently. Reuse Scotland facilitates the reuse of materials which might otherwise end up in landfill. Somewhat battered, a little bit grimy and with a scratch down the middle, the painting initially looked like Viewforth (east of the Temple) with its pair of gable ends facing the shore. However, on closer inspection it actually looks more like the postcard scene (below) of the shore at Lower Largo just east of the pier, where "Edina View",  "Rock View" and "Beach House" were built by Andrew Selkirk circa 1890 on the site of the much older properties shown. 

The painting is signed J.M. Dodds. This was ​Jonathan Murray Dodds, the son of a school master, who was born in 1858 in Prestonpans, East Lothian. After moving around Scotland with his father's job, he settled in Edinburgh and married Robina Hunter, daughter of a lemonade manufacturer, in 1877. In 1881 Dodds was described as a 'Commercial Traveller', which was likely supplying artist's materials. By 1891 the family, including six children, were living on Morningside Road in Edinburgh and Jonathan was described as 'Artist (landscape)'. It was probably around this time or slightly earlier that the painting was completed.

This was not the only Fife scene that Dodds captured. The artwork above features old Buckhaven's East Shore. It's a view that at first glance appears similar to the Lower Largo foreshore looking west, however, the photograph below confirms that it is Buckhaven, with its harbour wall in the distance. Dodds seems to have had an interest in traditional coastal activities and industries. Another of his works features Joppa Pans - the site of salt works close to Portobello - see further below.

​Above is a photograph of Lundin Shore taken by keen photographer, Lady Henrietta Gilmour, circa 1900, held by St Andrews University Collections. The image captures the Lundin salmon fishings - one of three such stake net fishing stations in the parish at the time. The other stations were Strathairly and Largo. However, these three were not the only salmon stations located in Largo Bay. To the west, in Scoonie Parish, there was the Leven Station owned by Durie Estate, and beyond that a station in Wemyss Parish. ​To the east in the Parish of Newburn, there were the Balchrystie and Dumbarnie stations. The map below shows the parishes of Scoonie, Largo and Newburn from west to east across Largo Bay. In 1899, there were 26 stake nets in the Firth of Forth as a whole.

Above notice from 4 June 1863 Fife Herald provides an early reference to the Leven Salmon Fishings. It informs people that no fishing was permitted between the mouth of the River Leven and the Lundin March Wall (now known as the Mile Dyke). The Fishings belonged to the Estate of Durie. 
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The detail above from a George Washington Wilson photograph circa 1900 shows the Leven stake nets, with Lundin Links clearly visible in the background. A coble boat can be seen on the shore next to the net structure. Below is another view of the Leven Salmon Fishings. The prominent building, standing alone, is the salmon bothy, built around 1880. Between the bothy and the shore there are nets drying. The stake net structure stretches out into the sea beyond that.

Robert Christie of Durie House owned the fishing station and records from both 1875 and 1885 show that it was leased to Alexander Baird. However, by 1895 lease was with large-scale operator Joseph Johnston and Sons of Montrose, as was the lease for the Wemyss Fishings. Johnston retained the Leven lease until around 1920. Valuation rolls show that the fishing station was unlet across the period 1925 to 1940 (see roll extract further below). The salmon bothy building survived for decades after the demise of the Leven Fishing Station. It had various uses in its later life, including as a base for the swimming club, a public convenience, a lifeguard station and a museum.

Across on the other side of Largo Parish, to the east, Newburn Parish also saw salmon fishing activity. The 3 August 1854 Fife Herald above refers to the letting of Balchrystie Stake Net Salmon Fishing. ​In addition, the 1855 valuation roll shows a salmon fishing associated with Dumbarnie Estate, owned by Charles Halkett Craigie Inglis and leased to George Smith of Johnston's Mill. Smith also leased a salmon fishing further east at Kincraig (in Kilconquhar Parish). George Smith remained the lessee or 'tacksman' until his death in 1874 (see death notice further below from 19 June 1874 East of Fife Record).
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The lease of the salmon fishing at Dumbarnie was given to Largo men James Clark and David Ballingall, following Smith's death. The pair had the Strathairly Fishings lease at the time as well. However, following the deaths of Clark and Ballingall, Andrew Greig Anderson, the Edinburgh fish merchant, took on the salmon stations at Dumbarnie and Balchrystie (as well as the Strathairly station in Largo Parish). This continued until Anderson's death in 1904. By 1905 - Joseph Johnston and Sons took over the running of the Balchrystie and Dumbarnie stations and continued to operate both until World War Two. Apparently at one time accommodation was required for ten men at the Dumbarnie Station. The 1912 map below hints at some small bothy type buildings along the shoreline close to Carrick Villa (the house built in 1885 by Andrew Greig Anderson and named after his wife, Mary Carrick). 

Above is a painting from 1896 by John Lennie, named 'Landing the Salmon Nets, Largo Bay', which features the east end of the bay. This painting is exhibited at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. The George Whitton Johnstone painting below, dated 1893 and inscribed 'Largo, Fife', depicts a similar location and shows nets being tended to in the foreground. The buildings of Lower Largo can be seen in the centre background.

At low tide, the stumps of the stake net structure can still be seen in this vicinity, as the recently taken photograph below illustrates.

As the series of posts on salmon fishing concludes, let's meet some of Largo's salmon fishers. Some appeared on the above circa 1900 postcard image which was entitled 'Salmon fishers landing the nets, Largo Bay'. ​Below is a photograph from the book 'Seatoun of Largo' by Ivy Jardine. It shows the salmon fishermen of Largo circa 1890, complete with their names. These are just a few of the faces behind what was once a significant part of local life and of the physical landscape of the bay. Although now at an end, salmon fishing remains an important part of the area's heritage. If you know more about Largo's salmon fishing days, please comment or get in touch via the 'contact' option.

Earlier blog posts have covered the Lundin Salmon Fishing Station and the Strathairly Salmon Fishing Station. For much of the nineteenth century there were three salmon stations along the stretch of Largo Bay that fell within Largo Parish. The third Largo station was known as Largo Salmon Fishing Station and was situated between the other two, east of the pier, close to the area depicted in the painting above by James MacMaster RSW RBA (1856-1913). The artwork shows Lower Largo of old, prior to the building of "Edina View",  "Rock View" and "Beach House" on the site of these traditional pantiled buildings. In fact, the developer of the site circa 1890 was also the tenant of the Largo salmon station, Andrew Selkirk, whose father Alexander had the salmon fishing lease before him.

Above is an extract from the 1865 valuation roll showing Alexander Selkirk, salmon fisher, as leasing the salmon fishings from then Largo estate owner Mrs Durham. Mr Selkirk was also innkeeper at what would become the Crusoe Hotel. When he died in 1867, his son Andrew, took over the tenancy of the Largo fishings. He held onto this fishing station for decades, even when the surrounding stations were taken on by powerful outside interests in the form of Andrew Greig Anderson of Edinburgh and Joseph Johnston and Sons of Montrose. In 1887, the "largest salmon on record, as far as Largo Bay is concerned" was caught in one of Andrew Selkirk's nets. It weighed 58 lbs, was 4 feet and 4 inches in length and 2 feet 4 inches in girth (see 2 July 1887 Fife News piece below).
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Largo-born artist Alexander Ballingall painted "Fixing the Nets", a the close-up view of the salmon nets being tended, around this time. This piece gives a valuable insight to the detail of the stake nets and also to the appearance of the salmon fishermen, including a hint of the colour of their clothing, which is always absent from black and white photographs.
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​The report above from 3 September 1903 Leven Advertiser tells of an remunerative year for the salmon fishing in the Forth, with some heavy takes recorded at the local stations. ​In the spring of 1907, the lease of the Largo Salmon Fishings finally left the hands of the Selkirk family, after more than sixty years, when local joiner and contractor Walter Horne took it over (see 22 April 1907 Dundee Courier below). Horne already had the lease of the neighbouring Strathairly Station. Andrew Selkirk died two years later. Horne continued to lease the Largo fishing station until circa 1940, in partnership with Alexander Simpson and later with David Gillies. Walter Horne died in 1941 aged 77.

Evidence of the Largo salmon fishing can still be seen at a very low tide. The comparison images above show a salmon trap in the bay and the remains of the stumps to which the ropes were attached to keep the nets taught. This construction - akin to pitching a tent - made the stake nets sturdier against the wind and the waves. The model below shows a similar arrangement. In the next post, the series on salmon fishing will conclude with a brief look at nearby fishing stations in Largo Bay, within the neighbouring parishes of Scoonie and Newburn.
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It's interesting to contemplate that back in the 1850s a "nice basket of fish" would have been "very appropriate for a Christmas present". This could have included the largest and finest "pandore oysters". These oysters, found in the Firth of Forth near Prestonpans got their name for being found close to the salt pans there. The advert below from the 10 December 1858 Caledonian Mercury was placed by John Anderson, the father of Andrew Greig Anderson who controlled many of the salmon fishing stations in Largo Bay in the late nineteenth century. Native oysters in the Forth were eventually fished to virtual extinction. The quirky festive postcard further below seems to hint at the loss of our native oysters, which are now part of a restoration project.
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Back in 1865, the valuation roll for Largo Parish included three salmon fishing stations: Lundin Salmon Fishings (owned by Standard Life Assurance Company); Largo Salmon Fishings (owned by Largo Estate); and Strathairly Salmon Fishings. The latter was owned by Captain David Briggs of Strathairly House and was leased at that time by David Ballingall (see valuation roll extract below). The painting above dates to 1895 and is by Peter D Lauder of Dollar. It features the salmon bothy and nets associated with this fishing station, to the east of the Temple. The Viewforth buildings are visible in the distance. A more recent photograph of the same view also appears for comparison.  Note that the Temple was once known as the Temple of Strathairly.

In the 1861 census, there were four men in Largo with the occupation of 'Salmon Fisher', all of whom lived at the Temple - David Ballingall, David Birrell, James Clark and John Clark. David Ballingall was married to James Clark's sister Betsy and John Clark was James's son, so this was a family affair. John Clark latterly lived at Rollo Villa, named after his mother, Mary Rollo. In fact, Alexander Selkirk, who leased the neighbouring Largo Salmon Station (more on that to follow) was also a relative. His sister Margaret was James Clark's mother - making him uncle to James and great uncle to John Clark. 

Such success must have attracted the attention of the big players in the salmon fishing game. One of those, Andrew Greig Anderson, already leased a salmon station a little further east in neighbouring Newburn Parish by 1875. Within a few years this Edinburgh fish merchant would operate many salmon fishings along both sides of the Forth, including at Stirling, Cockenzie, Aberlady, North Berwick and multiple within Largo Bay. He also had significant interests in Kirkcudbright. 

The previous Strathairly Fishings tenant James Clark died on 9 November 1879 at Lorne Cottage, aged 67 years. His salmon fishing partner David Ballingall died on 6 January 1885 aged 85 years. By 1885 Andrew Greig Anderson had the lease of both the Lundin Fishings and the Strathairly Fishings, in addition to the Balchrystie Fishings within Newburn Parish. A few years later he would add Dumbarnie Salmon Fishings to his Largo Bay portfolio, taking his total in the bay up to four stations.

Anderson also owned three houses at the Temple, which he rented out to the salmon fishers who worked his nets. The year 1885 also saw Anderson build Carrick Villa at Johnston's Mill (see 19 August 1885 Fife Herald story below). This imposing building (pictured further below in 1975 from the Canmore Collection) took its name from the maiden name of his wife, Mary Carrick. The map above shows the division between Largo and Newburn parishes and the proximity of Carrick Villa to the boundary between the two (marked Johnston's Mill).

Andrew Greig Anderson still had four Largo Bay salmon fishings, including Strathairly, in 1895. However, around this time he was also diverted with other interests. Being a fish merchant required much use and storage of ice. In 1895 Anderson commissioned none other than architect Peter Lyle Henderson (regular summer visitor to Largo, architect of the Lundin Links Hotel and one-time Captain of Lundin Golf Club) to design a large curved building on St Stephen's Street in Edinburgh's Stockbridge, to be used as an ice store.

Being something of an innovator, Anderson had a scheme to also create an adjacent ice rink, designing the 'ice floor for skating rinks' system (shown below) himself. The venture took a while to come to fruition but eventually reached the stage of having all of the necessary machinery installed. However, just as it was on the point of being ready to open, the scheme was abandoned. Between 1899 and 1901 the building was converted into a theatre. It operated as the Tivoli Theatre for several years, before becoming a picture house and later a night club, prior to burning down in 1991.

A few years after his unsuccessful ice rink venture, Andrew Greig Anderson died aged 64 from accidental poisoning. ​When the lease of the Strathairly salmon station became available, local men Walter Horne (joiner and contractor) and James Simpson (fisherman) took it on. The extract from the 1905 valuation roll below lists their names. Walter Horne also purchased the row of three homes at the Temple which Anderson had previously rented to salmon fishermen. In 1907 Horne also took over the lease of the Largo Salmon Fishing Station (more to follow on that). Walter Horne retained the tenancy at the Strathairly station right through to 1940, partnering with Alexander Simpson after the death of James Simpson and later with David Gillies. Walter Horne died in 1941 aged 77.

The Strathairly Station, as it was, went out of use during the Second World War but this wasn't the end of salmon fishing along this stretch of the bay. Activity eventually resumed and continued during the 1960s-1990s, as many will remember. A more recent photograph of the site is shown below. Further posts to follow, covering the third of Largo's salmon fishings, as well as those in neighbouring Newburn and Scoonie Parishes.

The image above features the salmon stake nets which once ran out to sea in front of the Net House (which itself is surrounded by nets drying in the photograph). This was known as the Lundin Salmon Fishings, and was one of three key 'fishing stations' along the coast of Largo Parish. This station was part of the Lundin Estate. The 1865 valuation roll extract below names the proprietor as Standard Life Assurance Company, who at the time owned the Lundin Estate. When the estate was advertised for sale five years later, 'Salmon Fishings in the Forth' were part of the specification and it was noted that these were let 'from year to year'. 

By 1875, when Allan Gilmour owned Lundin Estate, the tenant of the fishing station was David Beveridge, farmer at Buckthorns Farm. However, as the above snippet from the 7 July 1876 East of Fife Record shows, salmon fishing was an unpredictable venture. This piece called the season "a failure" stating that "fish still continue scarce" and "it is feared tacksman will lose by the speculation". This precarious situation probably explains why from that point onwards the Lundin Salmon Fishing was let to large-scale operators from outside of the local area.

In the 1880s, a new era dawned at Lundin Salmon Station, when Andrew Greig Anderson, Edinburgh fishmonger, began his long tenancy. In fact, Anderson not only leased the Lundin station but also had the tenancy of the Strathairly Fishing Station, in front of Dumbarnie Links (more on that site in the next post). Andrew was son of fish merchant John Anderson, who, over the preceding decades, had leased several oyster beds in the Firth of Forth, pioneered the import of ice from Norway and was lessee of many of the best salmon fisheries on both sides of the Forth. A couple of adverts from the 1870s for John Anderson & Sons are below. Andrew's mother was Eliza Greig, daughter of hotel keeper at the Chain Pier Inn, Edinburgh, Andrew Greig, who owned the steamboats that plied between Dundee and Granton, and often called at Largo. Andrew Greig Anderson was the eldest of John and Eliza's fifteen children.
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Interestingly, the 1891 census for Largo includes many men with the occupation of 'salmon fishers' who had places of birth around the Montrose area. Presumably these individuals had been brought to Largo by Anderson, who had significant fishing interests and connections around Scotland's coasts . These men lodged together in cottages at Emsdorf. 

In 1904, Andrew Greig Anderson, described as a fish, game and ice merchant, died aged 64 from accidental poisoning. At the time of his death, The Scotsman newspaper of 29 January 1904 described him as "possibly one of the largest lessees of salmon fishings in Scotland, having interests at Aberdeen, on the Kirkcudbright Dee, on the Tay and Firth, and at Largo Bay." 

By this time, a new long-term occupier of the 'Lundin Salmon Fishings and Cellar' had become established in the form of Joseph Johnston and Sons of Montrose. This long-established business would retain the tenancy until circa 1940, when it would seem that the Second World War brought about the demise of the Lundin station. The postcard image below features salmon fishers at the Lundin site, with Massney Braes in the background. The stake nets here even featured in artwork by George Leslie Hunter, shown further below.

Salmon have been fished around Scotland's coasts for hundreds of years and Largo Bay was once a prime site for this activity. Salmon begin their lives in fresh water before moving out to sea, but later return to their original rivers to spawn. Their predictable migration pattern coupled with more advanced traps meant that by the early nineteenth century salmon fishing had become a well-organised operation involving stake nets such as the one shown in the photograph above.
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The extract above from the Largo Parish section of the New Statistical Account of Scotland, recorded in 1837 by Reverend Robert Brown, states that a salmon stake-net fishery was started some years previously at "different stations". His report suggests that, while initially the enterprise was not financially viable, it had recently been resumed and was now more prosperous. The census of 1841 in Largo records five men who stated their occupation as 'salmon fisher'. Of those men, four resided at the Temple and the other at Viewforth, suggesting that the focus of the salmon fishing at the time was to the east of Lower Largo.

The shelving sandy beaches of Largo Bay suited the use of stake-nets. These systems are described in 'The Firth of Forth An Environmental History' by T.C. Smout and Mairi Stewart as follows:

"They consisted of rows of poles up to 800 yards long, erected between high- and low-water marks, fastened together with ropes from which curtains of nets were suspended; these were set at an angle to the shore so as to form leaders towards other enclosures of netting, or 'courts', with entrances designed to admit the salmon but so labyrinthine and protected by net bottoms and lids so that they could not find their way out again."

The fish court is emptied of fish at low tide. There were regulations about when the fishing could be carried out. A close season coincided with the salmon breeding season (mid-August to mid-February from 1824) and even during the fishing season there was a weekly close time, traditionally 24 hours from midnight on Saturday nights. At close times the nets had to be lifted. Many newspaper reports from the archives tell of incidences when salmon fishers failed to do this. Below is an example from the 19 October 1910 Leven Advertiser, where Alexander Simpson was unable to take in his nets due to stormy weather but was still fined.

​Occasionally, species other than salmon, such as seals and porpoises, found their way into the nets and this is also a feature of the newspaper archives. In 1874, for example, Largo salmon fisher, James Clark, caught a large porpoise and brought it alive to the annual horticultural event in Keil's Den to be exhibited.

The right to fish for salmon in Scotland - whether in the sea or in inland waters - is a heritable right (i.e. like land ownership it can be inherited). In the heyday of salmon fishing in Largo there were three salmon fisheries, one owned by Strathairly estate, one owned by Largo estate and one by Lundin estate, each let to an occupier who managed the salmon station. The tenant had the exclusive right to fish for salmon in the area of his fishery. The 'tack' or lease of a fishing tended to be auctioned annually. The unpredictability of the catch made it difficult for local fishermen to place large bids and this often resulted in larger-scale interests from outside the local area winning auctions.

As the next few blog posts will detail, operators from places such as Edinburgh and Montrose were among those taking on the Largo stations at various points in history. Tenants also often rented buildings in which to store their gear and were entitled to dry their nets on frames erected on the nearby shore. The painting below is a great example of a scene of nets drying - in this case at Lundin Salmon Fishings at Drummochy, by the Net House at Cellar Braes. More on this particular salmon fishing station in the next post.

Painting by James Riddel R.S.W. (1857-1928), entitled "Auld Reekie from Largo". Read more here.