The silver darlings, A history of the herring fishery – Mike Smylie

Mike Smylie is one of Britain’s leading fishing historians and has written for magazines such as Boatman, Classic Boat, Classic Sailor, Maritime Life & Traditions and Fishing News.

He has written some 27 books, including Herring – a History of the Silver Darlings.

Mike’s boat, the Lochfyne skiff Perseverance, was the catalyst to set up an exhibition ‘Kipperland’ about the herring fishery, first shown at the International Festival of the Sea in Bristol in 1996, part of the exhibition is the Amazing Travelling Kipperhouse, that produces exquisite kippers smoked over oak.

The Kipperland exhibition will be free to view at Filey Distillery (itself a former smokehouse) on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 4pm.

Throughout the weekend Mike will be smoking fish in his kipperhouse, he will be selling kippers on Sunday afternoon. He will also give a talk on the herring industry at 2pm on Sunday.