Some Of The Final Victims Of The Yoal Era.

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The decline of commercial fishing from open boats such as the Sixareen and Yoal brought about by the introducion of larger decked sail and steam powered vessels, which had been progressive during the latter part of the 19th Century and early part of the 20th Century, was all but complete by the time peace returned after World War I. By 1922 only a very small handful of boats very still engaging in the old traditional handline fishing for Saithe, and in Dunrossness a few of these still operated from the beach at the Pund next to Broch-head at the Eastshore, Virkie, and continued landing their catches as they had done for generations at Grutness.

Robert (Robbie) Williamson and Sinclair Williamson were brothers, both born at Noss, Scousburgh, Robbie on June 10th 1857, and Sinclair on August 20th 1862. Robbie married Jane Leslie on January 30th 1881 and they set up home on a croft at Exnaboe, Virkie. Sinclair married Barbara Harper from Toab, Virkie almost six years later on January 27th 1887 and set up home with his brother on the croft at Exnaboe which they operated as a joint venture. Both brothers were Yoal skippers and by 1922 men with a lifetime's experience of the sea, and of the waters they fished, but also the last few of a dying breed.

The morning of June 20th 1922 (or possibly the 22nd, the available records are in dispute) began a fine early summer's day, with a calm sea, a total of eight boats, most of them from the Pund beach, including Robbie's and Sinclair's, were fishing approx 2-3 miles east of the Taing, the Saithe apparently preferring the inshore waters. The fishing was good and the boats were taking a good haul, however by late morning the weather had deteriorated, what little wind had been from the SW had backed in to the SE and strengthened accompanied by heavy showers, a swell had also risen as they were now on the weather coast. Although loathe to leave a good fishing, the conditions soon demanded that the boats make for shore, Sinclair and Robbie being the last to leave. Running before the wind Sinclair's boat was struck by a heavy sea which swamped her, causing her to overturn, it is said a total of three times, before finally coming to rest keel up, although the four crewmembers would have attempted to hold on to the boat during this, by the time she finally came to rest, only one remained clinging to the upturned hull.

Alerted by circling and diving seabirds at the approx position his brother's boat should have been at, Robbie went to investigate and met the sight of the upturned hull of his brother's boat with crewmember James Sinclair clinging to it. Upon closing in a person was seen to be floating in the water close by, and Robbie was able to get close enough to identify his brother Sinclair, and it is said actually touch him, but he was swept away, never to be seen again, before he could get a secure grip.

The survivor James Sinclair was taken aboard Robbie's boat with some difficulty, and as no sign could be found of the remaining three crew, the yoal headed for shore. Of the remaining two crewmembers, James Robertson and Christopher William Halcrow, no trace was ever found.