BODDAM, a village, in the parish of Peterhead,
district of Buchan, county of Aberdeen, 3 miles (S.)
from Peterhead; containing 526 inhabitants. This
place anciently belonged to a branch of the Keith family,
who had a strong baronial castle, situated on a rock
overhanging the sea, and of which there are still considerable
remains. The village is situated on the eastern
coast, near the headland of Buchanness, and is inhabited
chiefly by persons employed in the fisheries,
which are carried 011 to a great extent. In the haddock-
fishery, commencing in March, and continuing till
July, twenty-two boats, of four men and a boy each,
are engaged; and during the season, each boat takes
generally about 30,000 fish, which are cured, and dried
upon the rocks, and sell at from £3 to £4 per thousand.
The herring-fishery begins in July, and continues till
September: it employs twenty-three large boats, with
crews of six men each; and the quantity of fish taken
during the season averages, when sold, about £100 for
each boat. There are twelve boats employed during the
winter months in the cod and white fishery; the fish are
cod, ling, skate, and turbot, and from 1200 to ISOO are
taken by each boat, and produce from £30 to £40. The
fish cured here obtain a decided preference in the market,
especially the haddocks, which, from being dried on the
rocks, are perfectly free from sand. The village has been
extended and improved; and a harbour of larger capacity
has been constructed, which has a greater depth of water
than that of Peterhead, and the approach of which is rendered
safe by the lighthouse on Buchanness.