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2004.72.3

Two copies of the Highland Land League publication `Tiree Food Producers Sent To Prison`.

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Land League publication about the proceedings in Oban Sheriff Court in April 1918 when eight Tiree crofters were indicted with land raiding at Balephetrish. The crofters named are Hugh MacPhail (b. 1845); Archibald Kennedy (b. 1863); John MacLean (b. 1865); William MacPhail (b. 1873); Hugh MacLean (b. 1857); John MacInnes (b. 1870); Hector MacDougall (b. 1845); Hector MacLean (b. 1871). From the papers of the late Sandy MacKinnon, Crossapol.

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2001.83.7

Leatherback turtle

Photograph of a leatherback turtle at Sandaig in the 1990s.

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Courtesy of Mr Eric Brown

The leatherback is the world’s largest turtle. It is so named because it lacks the typical bony plates on its carapace; instead its shell is flexible and covered with a thin layer of leathery skin. It has the widest distribution of all turtles and is found throughout the world’s oceans.

Adults feed mainly on jellyfish and often undertake long-distance migrations between feeding grounds in temperate waters and nesting beaches in the tropics. Their biology is unique amongst turtles enabling them to maintain an elevated body temperature.

The leatherback is a critically endangered species. Threats to their existence include habitat loss, over-harvesting of eggs, accidental capture in fisheries, and ingestion of plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish. The turtle is this photograph died shortly after it was found.

Colour photograph of a leatherback turtle around 1990.

Latherback turtle washed ashore at Sandaig around 1990.

2001.80.1

Black and white photograph of John MacDonald of Burnside, Mannal and Neil MacLean of Hough with a catch of cod in the late 1960s.

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Once plentiful on the fishing banks to the north and west of the island, cod and ling were fished commercially in the 19th century using long lines. In the 20th century only the local fishermen still went out to the banks for white fish for which there was a ready market on the island. They used bottom lines for cod, mid-water lines for smaller saithe and mackerel and small lines for flat fish.

Cod were fished using hand lines (‘beairt’) with two to six hooks on each baited with limpets (‘maorach’) or lugworms dug from the beach. Fishing line used to be made from horse hair either by spinning or plaiting it. It was still being made on Tiree in the 1940s.

Courtesy of Mrs Johann MacArthur