Washing fleeces in the river in front of Gilbert Street Tannery.
The steps on which the lower man stands can still
be seen in the river at low tide.

River Pollution
The process of leather making requires a great deal of water, hence the nearness of the tanneries to the River Ness. Fortunately it is a fast flowing river because the various processes caused considerable pollution – a problem for those who relied on river water for necessities of life, a problem for the ladies who tackled their washing in the river and certainly a problem for the salmon fishermen who netted fish to export across the North Sea.

Salmon Fishing
Over the years the right to fish in more and more parts of the river were granted to the burgesses, including netting leases for Friars Shot and Cherry Shot.