November 21st 1821

The Fishmonger's castle

John Richardson was one of those men who saw and seized the opportunities that were made manifest by the general expansion of trade and prosperity that took place in Scotland in the second half of the 18th Century. That the focus for his entrepreneurial talents lay with the fishing trade was not altogether surprising as Perth at this time was famous for the quantity and quality of salmon caught in the Tay.

Though much of the fish was exported to London, Richardson’s interests extended to many countries all over Europe. Bordeaux, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Leghorn and Paris were just some of the ports at which his vessels regularly called. He even, in a moment if misplaced enthusiasm, charted a boat to Philadelphia. It was a costly failure and was not repeated.

It was at the best of times a risky trade. As he writes to his agent in Edinburgh. “I will tell you plainly how my concern stood this year. I lost at Bordeaux and some trifle at Bilbao. I made pretty well at Holland and Dunkirk but the only touch of a cargo was 450 boxes sent to Leghorn……A new beginner in this article has much need to be cautious as it is a very hazardous business.” 

Among the hazards that had to be faced was that of the weather. Winds could blow the ships off course and ice could prevent them landing their catch. He writes to his agent at Rotterdam. “I see how fatal the frost has been to the sale of salmon. I fear that article once so promising this season will do no good.”  Luckily the thaw comes in time and he is able to write more optimistically and voice the hope that “the priest will recommend a scrupulous regard to the eating of fish.”  In Catholic countries in particular it was vitally necessary to land the cargoes by the beginning of Lent.

In spite of the difficulties Richardson continued to expand. He had his agents all over Scotland buying salmon from such places as Aberdeen (which with Perth commanded the best prices) Speyside, Loch Awe, Stornoway, Beauly and Sutherland (mainly from the Shin where the fish were rather coarse and only suited to the cheaper markets.). He had his own coopers working for him at Perth and many of his letters refer to the difficulties of getting suitable staves and hoops which at that time were of wood, mainly of willow. Salt was another problem, coming mainly from Portugal. If boats were held up at Lisbon orders might be lost for lack of curing facilities. The fish could be sent fresh but storms and contrary winds rendered this a risky operation.

Richardson probably owned some boats himself but in the main preferred to charter those of other owners. Though fish was his main commodity he also brought in, mainly from the Baltic, flax seed which was ground in his own mills for the production of linseed oil or oil cakes. In spite of his protestations “The wine trade I don’t deal in as I abhor the practice it leads to……”  there is evidence that he was not above importing claret and port. He was in fact prepared to deal with almost any commodity if he foresaw a profit.

John Richardson left large numbers of his account books and letters. He would appear to have been an honest and fair-minded man but there is little information concerning his private life. He certainly married producing a son and daughter. In November 1781 he bought Pitfour.

He did not die until 1821 but by this time his business was in decline.