Fife Folklore, Fishing in Fife - Working Clothes

Until about 1940 it was possible to tell a fisherman, even when he was ashore, by a glance at his clothes. This is not so now, for the distinctive dress is no longer worn. Between the wars, fishermen in the East Neuk might be seen wearing the following:

Pilot reeg, an outfit of trousers, waistcoat and jacket, or reefer coat, all made of pilot cloth, a smooth, very closely woven pure woollen cloth, navy blue in colour. This material became unobtainable after the Great War, but being almost indestructible, it was still worn, especially by the older men.

Pilot cap, often called a cheese cutter. A navy blue cap, similar to a Naval officer’s cap, with a hard, shiny peak, called the snoot.

Cape, an ordinary flat tweed cap, also called a bannet. A very light-coloured one was often called a doo-lichter.

Kerseys, thick working trousers made of kersey cloth, a closely woven, dark brown pure woollen material. They were often jambed, i.e. they had long inside-leg patches from the crotch to below the knee.

Gairnsey, a fisherman’s hand-knitted woollen jersey, knitted on four needles, with no sewing anywhere. Until about 1940 it was invariably navy blue in colour. They had a very special place, and many traditions and
even superstitions grew up around their varied and beautiful patterns. (In other fishing ports, the word gansey was used).

Plaidin’ drawers, knee-length drawers made from a woollen material almost as thick as blanket cloth. They were tied firmly under the knee-cap.

Worset drawers, hand knitted, ankle-length drawers, usually in Shetland grey, a pinkish colour.

Serks — Shirts. A flannel serk went next the skin, then a wincey serk and on Sundays, an ootside serk, of white or light coloured cotton, on top. Wincey was a mixture of wool and cotton, usually dark in colour.

Shift or shift o’ claes, consisted of a flannel serk, a wincey serk and a pair of drawers. This was usually worn for a fortnight, night and day, for, ashore and afloat, fishermen removed only gairnsey and trousers to go to bed. When setting off for the Yarmouth fishing it was usual to take six shifts, “ane on an’ five i’ the kist”.

Muffler was a square scarf of pure silk, black or grey checked, folded and worn inside the gairnsey neck.

Grauvit or skerf was a woollen scarf.

‘Jiskins, was the name given to a variety of oilskin garments made from oiled cotton cloth.

Brooks was an oilskin trouser suit, knee length, worn at sea. Brooks were not often seen after the Great War.

Dauper was a long pull-over oilskin smock that went down to the knees. This replaced the brooks.

Sea hat was a specially shaped and stiffened large sou’-wester type hat.

Sea buits were thigh length boots, hand made of thick leather until the Thirties, when rubber boots replaced them.

Sea buit stockin’s were long, thick hand-knitted stockings worn with sea boots. In Pittenweem and St. Monans, they were called buit hose.

Barkit jumper was a brown canvas pull-over, hip length, worn over the guernsey when oilskins were not necessary.

Mittens were large woollen gloves, with thumb, but no fingers, worn only at sea.

Boat’s bedcla’es were dark blankets and a dark cover sewn together to form a thick pad for easy use in the narrow bunks. The cover was often made of tweed and worsted patchwork.

Cla’es poke was large canvas bag with a draw-rope through brass eyelets at the top, for taking the bedcla’esto and from the boat. Men often made their
own cla’es poke.

Caff seck was a mattress made from a large bag filled with fresh chaff collected at the farms at threshing-time. It had a dark linen caff-seck cover.

Return To Scots Folklore