In 1872 the premises came into the possession of John Aim Shearer, whose general merchant's business was to last nearly 100 years. In the late 19th century Stromness was a flourishing centre of the herring fishing. J. A. Shearer erected a shop across the street from his house, and on the pier established a cooperage. At this time most trade with the east coast of Scotland was carried on by local trading vessels and Shearer's schooners, "Maggie, Janet, Mary Ann" and "Minnie", three of them named after his daughters, were a familiar sight discharging their cargoes at the end of the pier.