64/162

This travelling basket was used for sending salmon and sea trout by fast train from Scotland to a fishmonger or private individual. They were still in common use in the early 1960s in Scotland and other salmon areas. This one was probably made in Japan and was given to the donor by her fishmonger. It consists of a flat oblong bag cut from a piece of plaited reed or rush matting with machine stitched seams and a jute webbing handle. It has an open end sewn up with string.

1 basket: plaited reed

Visiting researcher note, Tim Johnson (basketmaker), 20 June 2014 – This basket is almost certainly not made of reed [Dorothy Wright idenitification], as European reed has joints which would make it too fragile for this purpose. It is more likely to be some kind of rush., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: BASKET (travelling, salmon) // Acc. No.: 64/162 // Group: MARKETING. // Neg. no.: 60/5958 // Place of origin: Imported probably from Japan // Period in use: Present. In use for at least 50 years. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Plaited reed matting, over-2-, under-2. Jute handle. // Shape and construction: Oblong flat bag cut from a piece of reed matting. Webbing handle. Open at one end which was sewn up with string. Machine stitched seams. // Dimensions: length: 32” Depth 11” // Use: For sending salmon & sea trout by fast train from Scotland to a fishmonger or private person // Dialect names: // Distribution: General in Scotland & in salmon areas // Additional notes: see Knight’s London Card.'

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)