Fisherman's boots with long uppers

The equipment of fishermen going out to fish depended largely on whether they were sailing in a boat or a much larger cutter. They took many necessary items with them, but they never forgot their special clothing, particularly the boots, which were designed for fishing work. In the Pomeranian Ethnography Department of the National Museum in Szczecin, there are two pairs of fishermen's boots. The pair presented here, originating from the Szczecin Lagoon, was purchased for the collection in 1949. They feature tall uppers sewn from two pieces of leather, with the front rising above the knees to form protectors used during kneeling work. Leather loops sewn on the inside of the upper edges made it easier to put the boots on and hang them for storage. The wooden soles are covered with thick, stiff leather, dyed black and likely treated with grease. The soles were attached to the uppers using cobbler's nails. According to ethnographic literature, fishermen sometimes soaked their boots in tar or fish oil to make the leather resistant to water. Work boots could not leak, so their waterproofness was tested by placing a smoldering bundle of straw inside the closed upper. If no smoke escaped through the seams or the sole joints, the boots were fit for use. Although they were extremely heavy and uncomfortable, they provided excellent protection against moisture, and the inside was insulated with straw and thick woolen socks. Małgorzata Kłosińska-Grzechowiak