Captain Jack Isbester

Hard down! Hard down!


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in overall length, were used by the old men and boys for inshore fishing for herring, whiting, haddock and shellfish.3 In 1869, when registration of open fishing boats was first required, there were 15 fourareens spread amongst the various Whiteness crofts, each with a crew of three or four men.4 The Whiteness boats were owned by the crofters themselves, unlike in some other parts of Shetland where the landlords owned them.5 However no fourareen was registered for John Isbester’s home at Haggersta. This supports the suggestion that his uncle, Laurence Anderson, used to go each summer with the Faroe smacks.

      Figure 3.1 Sixareen at Unst Boat Haven, Shetland

      The next section, in the middle of the sixareen, was used for shooting and hauling the fishing lines when fishing for cod and ling, or the nets when fishing for herring. The mast was stepped through the thwart immediately forward of the mid-section. Forward of the mast was space for most of the ballast and for the fire kettle, the pot and the peat fuel. The fire kettle was a large earthenware jar containing burning peat, kept lit throughout the voyage, over which a pot of food or drink could be heated. The next section contained the sea chest, a heavy box, its lid covered with a tarpaulin, containing provisions and utensils.

      Finally, in the bows were stowed two water breakers, or containers, and the sail when not in use.