The word 'minister' brings bad luck on fishing trip; other S...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1958.183.2
Original Tape ID
Summary
The word 'minister' brings bad luck on fishing trip; other Shetland fishing superstitions.
Margaret Umphray and her pal went to the herring one night, and her friend mentioned the word 'minister' on board the boat. The crew's faces fell and when the boat came into the market in the morning, they had no herring at all.
Whistling raises the wind and is not to be done on board. If no fish are caught it is blamed on a witch. In the old days a stick would be wrapped in cloth, dipped in oil, set alight, and then carried around the decks to "clear the witch". Margaret's generation did not do that although they knew of it. If someone mentioned a taboo word like 'minister' the reply 'cauld iron' had to be said to counteract the bad luck.
Item Subject/Person
Umphray, Mrs Margaret
Recording Location
County - Shetland
Island - Yell
Parish - Yell
Village/Place - Bouster
Item Location
County - Shetland
Island - Shetland Mainland
Parish - Tingwall
Village/Place - Scalloway
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good