3-011-609 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Shellfish Supplies: shellfish-catchers' cottage at Canty Bay, [Scotland], 1862. 'Shellfish is the popular name bestowed by unscientific persons on the Crustaceans and Mollusca...The taking of shellfish...affords occupation to the old men and youngsters of the fishing villages, and these folks may be seen in the fine days assiduously waiting on the lobster-traps and crab-cages...Immense quantities of all the edible mollusca are annually collected by women and children in order to supply the large inland cities. Great sacks full of periwinkles, whelks, &c., are sent on by railway to Manchester, Glasgow, London, &c., whilst on portions of the Scottish seacoast the larger kinds are assiduously collected by the fishermen's wives and prepared as bait for the long handlings which are used in capturing the codfish or other Gadidae...On the granite-bound, coast of Scotland the sport of crabhunting may be enjoyed to perfection and the wonders of the deep be studied at the same time...The natives are the best instructors in these arts, and seaside visitors cannot do better than engage the services of some wild fisher youth to act as guide in their perambulations on the beach'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.