37970: Sir James Matheson

The Sir James Matheson SY515 was registered in 1871 by owner Kenneth Smith (Stornoway) under skipper Alexander McLeod of Carloway. However in 1869 she appears to have been sailing out of Valtos skippered by Murdo Macdonald.

Two masts and lugs; fishing lines.

7 ton; 25′ keel, crew of eight.

Sir James Matheson himself was the proprietor of the Isle of Lewis from 1844 until his death in1878 and sought to improve the economy of the island by investing in the fish-curing industry, amongst other schemes.