Collection: Portsoy Salmon Bothy

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Salmon Bothy opened to the public in November 2008. At this point the only artefacts in the Salmon Bothy collection were on loan from Aberdeenshire Museum Service (AMS) and the necessary paperwork was completed to this effect. The original collection from the Salmon Bothy, Portsoy, reflects the practices of the salmon fishing industry in Portsoy and associated ways of life in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The collection consists of nets, ropes and various implements and items employed in the salmon fishing industry. In process of being acquired; the intention of the subgroup is to represent archive material pertaining to the industrial and social history of Portsoy from the building of the old harbour in 1693 to the present day.

  The museum also holds a large and rich collection of photographs digitally stored and backed up within the main computer of the Bothy within the Office. These are used extensively in temporary exhibitions and reflect much of the early life and work of Portsoy.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Our collection has grown since the establishment of the museum. Many items on display in the museum are on long term loan from AMS. The museum displays are updated regularly and the museum accepts donations and loans which are made. Additional objects are held in store such as photographic slides, paper, posters, photo albums and programmes.

  The collection displayed within the three chambers of Salmon Bothy museum consists of:

  • a range of the typical equipment used in offshore salmon fishing including nets, metal artefacts, fish boxes, wood and basket ware;
  • a model of a bag net;
  • model fishing boat;
  • coracles;
  • bunk beds;
  • inshore pilot boat;
  • fish boxes and baskets.

  The chambers also provide visitors with a good sense of how the fish were stored and handled in a damp, cool and relatively dark setting which in itself brings a number of challenges for the care and conservation of objects. There are artefacts relating to the Herring industry as well as sails and photographs although the photographs are copies that have been laminated as the conditions are not appropriate to display originals.

  Objects are also stored in the Loft in the Bothy and at Cowhythe steading close to Portsoy. These objects are mainly on loan from AMS.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC