A practical look at the Orkney Islands and a historic fishing method, with ideas you can compare to today’s coastwise life.
This edition presents James Fea’s 1775 account of Orkney’s advantages for trade and the role of fisheries in the islands’ economy. It surveys the country, the people’s subsistence methods, and proposals meant to improve conditions and open new opportunities for wealth. It also includes observations on landholding, local customs, and island wildlife, providing a window into how coastal communities lived and worked in that era.
- See how geography and location shaped trade and prosperity for the Orkney Islands.
- Learn about the traditional methods people used for subsistence and the proposed reforms Fea advocates.
- Explore the author’s notes on local habits, tenancy, and even avian life as part of island life.
- Understand how a separate pamphlet on the coast of Shetland describes a new fishing approach and its practical steps.
Ideal for readers of maritime history, regional studies, and early economic writing, especially those curious about 18th‑century island life and coastal industry.