Boddam

   BODDAM, a village, in the parish of Peterhead, district of Buchan, county of Aberdeen, 3 miles (S.) from Peterhead; containing 526 inhabitants. This place anciently belonged to a branch of the Keith family, who had a strong baronial castle, situated on a rock overhanging the sea, and of which there are still considerable remains. The village, which is on the eastern coast, near the headland of Buchanness, is inhabited chiefly by persons employed in the fisheries, which are carried on to a great extent, there being two small harbours, separated only by a beach of pebbles, of which the shore here mainly consists. In the haddock-fishery, commencing in March, and continuing till July, twenty-two boats, of four men and a boy each, are engaged, and, during the season, each boat takes generally about 30,000 fish, which are cured, and dried upon the rocks, and sell at from £3 to £4 per thousand. The herring-fishery begins in July, and continues till September, and employs twenty-three larger boats, with crews of six men each; and the quantity of fish taken during the season, averages, when sold, about £100 for each boat. There are twelve boats employed during the winter months, in the cod and white fishery; the fish are, cod, ling, skate, and turbot, and from 1200 to 1800 are taken by each boat, and produce from £30 to £40. The fish cured here obtain a decided preference in the markets, and especially the haddocks, which from being dried on the rocks, are perfectly free from sand. The village has been greatly extended and improved; and a harbour of greater capacity is now being constructed, which will have a greater depth of water than that of Peterhead, and of which the approach will be rendered safe by the lighthouse on Buchanness.