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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KLONDYKE, v. To export fresh herring packed in salt and ice by fast steamer to the Continent (I. and n.Sc., Arg. 1960). In the late 20th century: to export fresh fish, mainly mackerel, to the Continent, direct to factory ships for processing on board. Mainly in vbl.n. and ppl.adj. klondyking.Sc. 1927 J. T. Jenkins Herring 146:
While trawled herring are unsuitable for pickling, they are well adapted for “klondyking” — a method of preparing herring for export practically fresh by sprinkling them with salt and ice.Sc. 1930 P. F. Anson Fishing Boats 20:
On an average about 12 per cent [of the herring catch] is exported fresh to Germany. This freshing export trade is known as “klondyking”.Sc. 1953 Abd. Press & Jnl. (17 June):
The klondykers, however, sent only about one-third of the 1951 quantity of fresh herring to Western Germany.Sc. 1996 Scotsman 3 Jul 7:
The west coast herring quota of 46,000 tonnes will be unaffected, however, and North Sea vessels will be free to exploit the alternative fishery, providing a major boost for the klondyking ports of Mallaig and Ullapool. Sc. 2000 Press and Journal 10 Aug 20:
Historically, there had been the Baltic trade controlled by the Hanseatic League and, from then down to the recent klondyking, pelagic species had been traded far and wide. Sc. 2003 Press and Journal 7 Jul 3:
The authority's remit was extended in the 1970s from Sleat Point to Inverie, to enable it to control the Eastern European klondyking fish factory ships.

 Hence klondyker, one who engages in this occupation (Sc. 1927 J. T. Jenkins Herring 132, 1949 E. Partridge Slang Dict., Add.); a ship used for klondyking. Also attrib.Sc. 1994 Daily Record 20 Dec 11:
The first warning shots were fired across the bows of the rustbucket klondykers yesterday. ... Klondykers have been involved in a spate of incidents off Scotland, including the rescue of 156 crew last month when the 10,000-ton Pionersk ran aground on Shetland.
A female worker also died when a klondyker lifeboat hit rocks outside Lerwick harbour. Sc. 2000 Scotland on Sunday 19 Mar 23:
Outside in the freezing cold, Alexei Kuznetsov, a diminutive redundant fish processor who once worked on the Klondykers off the Scottish coast, peddles badges from the Soviet era and Red Army hats to the few visiting Westerners in town. Sc. 2000 Edinburgh Evening News 11 Aug 3:
Set in Lerwick, the play tells of the love affairs which build up between local Shetlanders and Bulgarian klondykers, stuck on their ship after the fall of communism in the 1980s left the ship impounded in Lerwick harbour. Sc. 2004 Daily Record 7 May 15:
And he fears there is a threat the cash for Poland could see the return of massive 'Klondyker' factory ships to the North Sea.

2. Attrib. (of) a ship involved in klondyking.Sc. 1990 Sunday Times 12 Aug :
The battle of nerves between Scottish herring fishermen and the Russian "klondyke" factory-ship fleet has reached a crucial stage.Sc. 1994 Herald 18 Oct 9:
"Shetland is not the only community in Britain which has been left to pick up the pieces when klondyke vessels have run into difficulties," he said.Sc. 1996 Sunday Times 9 Jun :
After pastoral Orkney, Shetland seems a wild untamed place. The land is poorer but the fishing is richer. As Hugh MacDiarmid wrote: "The Orcadian is a farmer with a boat, the Shetlander is a fisherman with a croft". ... the links with Scandinavia are even closer here and ... East European accents can he heard in the streets of Lerwick as the klondyke boats move in to buy Shetland herring.