Fresh Fish Supplies for Country Districts.
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rirl HE transport of fresh fish on
motorvans and motor, lorries from coast to country districts, which was non-existent in pre-war days, has now become quite an established branch of the fish trade in northern Scotland. Indeed some of the country districts have, in recent years, come to be so well supplied with fresh haddocks, etc., that the salt herring of the olden days does not now appear to have a look in.
Most of the Moray Firth seaport's possess a fleet of haddock boats, and these, be it noted, are motor-driven. Their supplies of fresh fish are landed daily, and fish cars are generally to be found awaiting the arrival of the motor boats in the early morning.
This new industry was begun by Scottish ex-service men some years ago, when the herring trade was at a very low ebb. The country fish market was then unexplored, but experiments soon proved that it was quite a feasible proposition to retail fish by motor vehicle in the country districts. Fish merchants at Buckle, • Lossiemouth, Hopeman, Burghead and other places had Ford cars adapted for use as vans or lorries, and soon there was a demand for their wares.
Some merchants journeyed via Elgin to Rothes, Aberlour, Dufftown, and even so far at Toraintoul, one of the remotest villages in the Highlands, where travelling facilties, except by motor, are practically non-existent. Other merchants undertook the route via Nairn to Inverness, disposing ot some of their fish to customers on the way.
In the course of a recent interview a prominent Moray Firth fish merchant, who undertakes a journey daily either to Fochabers or to Orton, two picturesque Banffshire districts, said that daily running told very heavily on the fish cars. IIe had found the Ford to be an excellent all-round vehicle, and another make of vehicle, which he purchased over a year ago, has, so far, also done splendid service.
Needless to say, the country folk in Morayshire and Banffshire thoroughly appreciate the enterprising efforts of the Moray Firth fish merchants. Fish supplies that are transported to the districts of Aberlour and Grantown, where fish shops were opened not so very long ago; find a ready sale.