By the mid nineteenth century Stromness had four boatyards to cater for the demand for sailing vessels but it was not until later that century that the explosion in the herring industry led to the rapid expansion of the town. INdeed, for a while, Stromness was larger in population than neighbouring Kirkwall. Of course, the herring industry declined fairly rapidly and, by the time of World War One Stromness was no longer an important herring port.
It was during this conflict that Stromness gained a new importance. The Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy made Scapa Flow its base and Stromness became a naval Head-Quarters. It was also during this time that the German fleet was famously scuttled. After the Great War and during the Great Depression, Stromness suffered as much as anywhere else with the closure of a boatyard and a series of unsuccessful ventures to rejuvinate the town. In 1920, the temperance movement in Stromness led to the banning of alcohol which lasted until 1947.
During the Second World War, Stromness regained its importance as a naval HQ and was responsible for the resupply of provisions to the fleet in Scapa Flow.
After the exitement of the war, the population of Stromness began a gradual deline, only rising again twenty years ago.
Today, Stromness is still an important port, recieving passengers from Scrabster, Aberdeen and Shetland. Of course, its days as a major fishing port are over and it is the tourism industry which provides the major income for the town.
