Glyn Satterley

Bill Abernethy, pearl fisher

About this artwork

Fresh-water mussels are on the brink of extinction because of over fishing. Due to changes in the law in 1998 it is now illegal to kill or disturb them. Legendary fisherman, Bill Abernethy was of the last generation to legally collect the pearls which form inside fresh-water mussels. This photograph shows him sitting on the river bank (possibly the River Spey near Tulchan, Scotland). He is holding his tool for lifting the mussels, which live buried in sand at the bottom of fast-flowing rivers. Whilst lying on his stomach in a small boat or walking the river in waders, Abernethy would use the unusual bucket-like object shown here beside his right leg to look for the mussels underwater.

Updated May 2022

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Glyn Satterley

Glyn Satterley