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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: frizzante on Monday 13 February 23 08:45 GMT (UK)
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I am searching for a salmon fisherman who was away from home for the 1861 and 1871 census. I wonder if he might be found somewhere else, and was wondering if anyone knows where the main salmon fishing hubs might have been around this time?
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There were several ways of catching salmon.
First, using a rod and line in a river. This was and still is a very sought-after 'sport' and an important economic activity because it attracts wealthy customers and provides employment in rural areas.
Second, on rivers using boats to lay a net round in a circle and pull it in.
Third, on beaches using stake nets designed to trap the fish at high tide and then to be emptied at low tide.
Fourth, by boat at sea.
Fifth, by assorted illegal methods of poaching.
If you can supply his name, approximate year of birth and where he lived when he was not away at the fishing, we might be able to make a stab at finding him.
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Hi All
Also some lived in bothies as some river stations were tidal so worked tides as there are 2 tides a day not feasible to live at home.
yours Aye
BruceL
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There was salmon fishing all round the coast and, as bleckiesays, also on rivers. There were no particular 'hubs'.
Without a bit more to go on we are really stuck.
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He may have not slept at home on Census night because away Fishing at night
But would he not have been eligible to Vote from an address
either year either side of both Census Years ?
Was Married ?
She would be on the Census and with any Children
Their Births and Baptisms would also give his Home address
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But would he not have been eligible to Vote from an address either year either side of both Census Years ?
Probably not. Until 1867 only a male freeholder, that is, a man who owned his house, and was aged 21 or more, was eligible to vote.
In 1867 the vote was widened to include all male householders aged 21 or more, But that would not have included someone who was living temporarily in a bothy or fishing hut.
I'm sure you are right about all the other details but until frizzante gives us that information we can't answer the question because there are too many variables involved.
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Cheers Forfarian for that knowledge
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Hello all, I'm sorry for not giving more information, but this is for a project I must research myself so I was just looking for some general information on fishermen around that time. After much searching, I've concluded he was probably in a bothy somewhere and isn't on the census. Thank you for your help!
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Even if he was in a bothy, he should still be in the census.
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I wonder if he has a surname which has variant spellings or is prone to mistranscription and is hiding that way?
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Or maybe someone is using the notoriously poor transcriptions at Ancestry?
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What was the date of the census, the Scottish rivers "closed season" varies quite a bit from the Tweed in the south to the Thurso in the north and closure dates will differ from todays regulations anyhow. He would have had another occupation for the closed season.
Bests,
Skoosh.
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7 April 1861 and 2 April 1871. Both in the salmon season in most parts of the country I think.