The Herring Girls

During the early 20th century, fishing ports of Scotland were packed with “Herring Girls” who followed the fishing fleet from port to port throughout the summer, cleaning herring. With little other work available for women, even though it was hard and poorly paid, it provided an essential income along with the company of other women, as they gutted and packed the fish. Sadly, the industry declined after WWII and life of the “Herring Girls” passed into history. But, with Fleetwood fishing blood running through my veins, I was delighted to discover their lives were celebrated by two statues in Stornoway.