:20:01
using fine nets kept up by
air-filled floats to catch herring.
:20:06
According to the regulations,
:20:09
trawlers were supposed to observe a
three-mile limit around the islands.
:20:14
But, inevitably, they often didn't.
:20:17
Already, in the 1930s,
:20:19
the traditional livelihood of the
island fishermen was under threat.
:20:23
Catches were low
and unpredictable
:20:26
and the trawler fleets
took a lot of the blame.
:20:29
Powell argued in his book
:20:32
that the issue wasn't really
so black and white.
:20:34
He noted that
the trawlermen performed
:20:37
many acts of kindness
for the islanders.
:20:41
But in the end they were driven
by the profit motive.
:20:45
This would inevitably destroy
the fragile island economy.
:20:49
He sums it up in the book
like this:
:20:52
"The conquest of nature
by civilisation is a fine theme
:20:56
and always printed in big capitals,
:20:58
but what good is civilisation,
:21:00
if it drives a strong, hardy,
independent people
:21:03
back from the outposts
to live in towns?"
:21:06
(Dialogue)... you spoke
for half the island
:21:08
when you're not two days back from
the very boats that have ruined us!
:21:11
Three months' work
and £63 to show for it.
:21:14
Shillings is what I'd be showing
if I'd stayed on Hirta.
:21:16
- Och, you're no son o' mine.
- Don't take it so hard, Peter, man.
:21:20
The boy's just said
what had to be said.
:21:23
Men we must have,
and where are we going to get them?
:21:26
Oh, this tale o' Robbie's has been
in my mind for a long while.
:21:30
Now, if we was to petition
the Government,
:21:33
there's little doubt
we'd get free transportation...
:21:37
(Christie) The decision
about the future of the island
:21:40
is going to be made not by a vote,
in this parliament,
:21:43
but by a contest:
:21:45
The prowess
of two rival champions,
:21:49
the two sons of the two families,
:21:52
who take opposing views.
:21:54
Robbie and Andrew
will race, following tradition,
:21:57
to the top of the cliff
:21:59
and whoever wins, that will be
the community's decision.