Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KESSOCK, prop.n. The name of a village on the Beauly Firth near Inverness, used attrib., and by transf. applied to a small variety of herring caught in the Inverness Firth (Rs., Inv., Mry. 1959).Sc. 1791 P. White Sc. Fisheries 28:
Kessock herrings . . . for some years back have constantly appeared at a narrow strait . . . called the Ferry of Kessock. These fish are, however, of so small a size, and so poor, as to be altogether unfit for curing; they are therefore sold mostly at the market at Inverness. . . . The continuance of these fish is very uncertain; sometimes only a few days, at other times for a month.Sc. 1803 Prize Essays Highl. Soc. 306:
The Kessock herrings (for they seem peculiar to the Frith adjoining to that place), when salted, are not in great repute, or demand, at any market, not even in the West Indies, owing to their lean quality, and small size.Inv. 1952 Scotsman (3 Dec.):
The herring caught in the Beauly Firth, which are locally known as Kessocks, are too small for fishmeal processing purposes.
