This deposit provides a full record of the Association's activities for the period 1888 - 1947. It comprises minutes, May 1888 - Jun 1947, copy letter books, Sept 1936 - Oct 1942, cash books, 1889 - 1942, and printed Constitution and Standing Orders of the Association, Mar 1936. The minutes and letter books are of particular interest for the detailed information which they contain about the state of fishing and fish trade industries in Aberdeen, and nationally, from the late nineteenth century until the years immediately after the Second World War. They provide a record of the Association's relationships with related organisations, Trade Unions and the Ministry of Food, in matters such as fair trading, working conditions and pricing agreements.
Records of Aberdeen Fish Curers and Merchants Association
This material is held atUniversity of Aberdeen Collections
- Reference
- GB 231 MS 3054
- Dates of Creation
- 1888 - 1947
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English.
- Physical Description
- 14 volumes and 1pamphlet (0.75 linear metres) None affecting use of the collection
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
The association was established in May 1888, as Aberdeen Fish Trade Association, and was incorporated with its present title in 1944. It began in response to the introduction of sales by auction in the late nineteenth century, its first achievement being an agreement amongst fish sellers to provide discounts for cash sales to accredited buyers. The purpose of this agreement was to put the fish trade of Aberdeen on a more firm and substantial footing with regard to the paying of fish bought on the pier and in particular, to exclude the large number of bogus buyers who had not the means to pay for what they were bidding for, harassing the legitimate buyers and putting the trade in a very bad condition, hurtful alike to both seller and buyer (GB 231 MS 3054/1). In 1936 its objectives were broadly defined to promote and protect the interests of its members (GB 231 MS 3054/15). Membership was open to wholesale fish merchants and fish curers carrying on a business in Aberdeen, and in 1980 stood at more than 200. The Association is perhaps unique in that it manufactures boxes of cardboard and wood for member companies.
Arrangement
Arranged by record type, and chronologically therein
Access Information
Open, subject to signature accepting conditions of use at reader registration sheet
Acquisition Information
Deposited in the University in 1980
Other Finding Aids
Descriptive list available in the Reading Room, Special Libraries and Archives, University of Aberdeen. Contents of this list are searchable on-line at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/historic/collects/stiqcgi/prelim01.html, via the Historic Collections database. A copy of this list (reference NRA 21662) is also available at the Historical Manuscripts Commission, Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, WC2A IHP.
Very brief collection level description available on Aberdeen University Library Catalogue, accessible online http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/library/
Alternative Form Available
No copies known
Conditions Governing Use
Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of Special Libraries and Archives ( speclib@abdn.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures
Accruals
No accruals expected
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
This material is original