We spotted a lonesome figure and his haaf net in the Nith yesterday morning. The sun was beating down, there was just a hint of a breeze, the scene was idyllic.
We found out that Alec (from Caerlaverock Castle) started haaf netting in the river back in 1959. Those were the days before waders, buoyancy aids and waterproof jackets! He has lived through the ebbs and flow of the salmon, and seen the haaf netter population dwindle through the years.
He recounted how, as the local women got together to socialise through the rural, so the men would spend their time haaf netting. The shores of the Nith on both sides would be lined with haaf netters. Alec’s preferred spot in those days was near Carsethorn.
In good times, it was also a worthy supplementary income. This was before all the distractions of modern times…
Alec told us that one of the reasons he loves haaf netting is his love of the river – and how he’s never lost an argument with the river – it doesn’t argue back!
Alec haaf netting, and walkers from the the U3A walking group