The herring drifter ‘Eriskay’
Photograph of the herring drifter ‘Eriskay’.
Courtesy of Mr Iain MacDonald
The east coast herring drifter, ‘Eriskay’, was bought by Donald Archie MacDonald of Skipinnish, Ruaig. During the Tiree herring boom of 1914-1921, it was used to take catches of herring to the Broomielaw in Glasgow, returning with city goods.
The boiler was below the wheelhouse and kept the man at the wheel warm in the winter and too hot in the summer. The boat went on fire around 1930 in Milton harbour where its boiler can still be seen at low tide.
Donald Archie went on to build the ‘Deirdre’, a 26 foot long motor boat powered by a converted car engine, which took passengers from Tiree on day trips to Iona and Fingal’s Cave.
Photograph of the herring drifter `Eriksay`.
The herring drifter `Eriskay` owned by Donald Archie MacDonald of Skipinnish in Ruaig. It was used to take catches of herring to the Broomielaw in Glasgow during the Tiree herring boom of 1814-1821, returning with city goods. It went on fire around 1830 in Milton harbour where its boiler can still be seen at low tide.