Photograph of Eyemouth Harbour

Once one of Scotland's busiest fishing ports, Eyemouth retains but a fraction of the bustle of olden days as the sun rises above the harbour. Its attraction remains undiminished, despite the absence of the majority of a once-proud fishing fleet.

While there was no mistaking the centuries-old tradition of a VERY early morning arrival for work of those still employed in the fish trade at Eyemouth, the bustle was gone and the noise was a mere fraction of what it must have been - even fifty years ago.

A few fishing vessels, granted, were still out in open waters, trying to plunder what more they could from the North Sea, but the harbour itself was almost devoid of commercial boats of any decent size. Meanwhile, the growing number of recreational vessels in harbour is ample evidence of the huge change in boating habits over the past twenty years or so.

To the visiting photographer, even this early in the day, the scene makes for a pretty sad state of affairs. It is impossible not to let the imagination run riot and develop a mental picture of days gone by - of frenetic arrivals, landings, gutting and cleaning - plus, of course, the precious selling operation which produced the townspeople's wealth and security of employment for centuries. Alas, it is unlikely ever to return.

Product Code: WS800