Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-17
MISC ELL AN Y.
Caller Eaerrin'.

Newhaven is the most famous fishing
village in Scotlant-or perhaps in all Great
Britain. 1t is situated about mile from
North Leith, and three miles from Edn-
burg, on the shore of the Firth OF Forth,
and is inhabited by colony OF tisher-iolkS,
who are a peculiar race, speaking pecu-
liar dialect, and as different from the ordi-
uary Scotch people living around them, as
the Indians of North America are different
from the pioneers who pierce their forests.
They intermarry solely amongst them
selves, and during my residence among
them, [ often saw reason to believe that
they hold all other people in contempt. 1t
is an interesting thing to stroll through The
village, and watch the stalwart fishermen
drawing their open boats ashore, spreading
their sails aud nets to Cry, and overhauIing
their tackle; and to watch the fisher wives
sitting in groups mendng the nets, or bait
ing the hooks, or preparing the fish for mar
ket. They carry the latter in creeiS-a
species of huge wickes-basket, borne at the
back; and the weight they carry with the
greatest apparent ease is incredible. 1t Is
a Joke in the locality, that when the fisher
wives have trudged all the way to Edin-
burgh with heavy creel of "haddi>h," or
oysters, or 'poorties" (crabs), or what not,
and sold them, they ieel so WHci'ancy with
the empty creel, that they fill il with stones
on their return. They are at any rate a
most hard-working people, and perhaps
present the most picturesque appearance OF
any class in Great Britain, wearing exceed
ingly short petticoatS, with gowns OF yell
low, and other bright gaudy colours, looped
up in front, over which is huge jacket Of
dark coarse blue cloth, and handkerchief
bound snood-faShion across their heads, and
another crossed over their bosoms. They
are frequently very good-looklng, and ma
nv time have | listened with delight TO
their clear, powerful cries, as they pod a.
long the streets, seeking customers for the
coatentS ofthe creels at their backs. There
is something in the tone OF all their cries
that has often struck me as being remarka-
bly, plaintve-especlaly ''caller herrin' "
(fresh herrings.) The song OF "caller her
rim !" is truth itself:-
"Wha'l buy caller herrin'?
They're bonnie fish and hailsum lairin';
Wha'n buy caller herrin',
New drawn frae the Forth2
When We were Sleepin' ON your pillows
Dream'd ye aught o our puir fellows,
DarkIing as they faced the pillows,
A. to fill the woven willows
"Wha1l buy my caller herrin'?
They're no brought here without brave DARN
Buy my caller herrin',
Ye little ken their worth.
Wha'll buy my caller herrn'?
Oh! We may call them vulgar fairin';
Wives and mithers, maiSt despairin',
ca them Eves o. men"
The fishermen themselves are so exceed
ingly supersttiouS, that when their boats
are quite ready to sail on voyage, if they
happen to meet with any stranger whose
face they think "unlucky," they actually
defer the voyage for day or two! The
story am about to relate has some con-
nexion with this superstition.
About twenty-five years ago the prettlestI
gIrl in Newhayen was Lillias Rae, the only
daughter of au old fisherman, who was a
widower, and possessed half share in one
OF the boats. She was betroLhed to young
man--ot course of the same profession
named Larry Stirling, who was reckoned
the best dancer, and The smartest young
fellow IN the place Everybody thought it
a good match, and the preparations for the
wedding were 50 far completed, that it was
arranged to take place after the first return
of Larry from the herring fishery, which
usually commences about the middle of Ju- |
ly. News arrived at Newhaven that laroe
drove of herrings had appeared on the coast
of Rerwick and st. Abb'S Head, fortnight
earlier than was expected; and great was
the hustle among the fishermen to set sail
to share in this goI-ssnd, as in the early
plrt of the season fresh herrings sell for a
bout two or three penny, and as it adyan-
ceS and the fish BECOME abundant, they