Old Eyemouth and Burnmouth

A thriving herring port in the nineteenth century, Eyemouth had 61 registered fishing boats and over 40 'foreign' boats (boats not from the town) in 1891 and Eyemouth Kippers were once as famous as Arbroath Smokies. Although today the fishing fleet is quite depleted, these photographs taken in the nineteenth century show the picturesque harbour packed with sail. The most popular sailing boat was known as a 'Fifie' and these were built in Eyemouth by J. Weatherhead to the classic design originating in Fifeshire. They eventually gave way to the smaller diesel powered boats with closed-in decks shown in the early twentieth century alongside the newly improved Burnmouth Harbour lined with lobster pots.