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	December 11^th 1999 Stock Update: We very much regret that we are unable to accept any more orders for smoked salmon until further notice because our stocks are now at critical level. Those who heeded our warnings and have ordered (and received confirmation) will receive their smoked salmon. However, please e-mail us at info@ummera.com and we will keep you personally posted if we do have some sides available. Missing Orders: There have been a couple of orders gone astray after being submitted from our Order Form page at the end of November. If you have ordered, but not received an e-mail confirmation from us, please contact us immediately. December 4^th 1999 TV Coverage Sky News covered on-line shopping in their Technofile program today. We were delighted to see that Ummera Wild Eel and Salmon were featured. Have a look at their web page at: http://www.skynews.co.uk/skynews/tfile/story3.htm. November 28^th 1999 The British Independent on Sunday carried a feature on Christmas fare by Henrietta Green; Ummera Smoked Salmon was strongly recommended. November 29^th 1999 Stock Update We currently have stocks available of 800gm and 900gm sides. Larger sides are now sold out. Don't delay in getting your Christmas Order in to us. November 12^th 1999 Christmas Orders Orders for Christmas and New Year are now being accepted. There is a very real possibility that we will have to close our order books before Christmas. Order NOW for Christmas - Do not delay The 1999 Bridgestone Irish Food Guide was recently published and we are delighted to be included once again; comments such as "superlative smoked salmon", "the finest smoked fish one can buy" and "the perfect alliance between fine fish and the complex mysterious magic of wood smoke" enforce and encourage our commitment to provide you with the best smoked salmon. The full contents of the entry can be found on our web site. We were also very happy that the quality of our product was acknowledged with an award at The Great Taste Awards in the U.K., sponsored by Fortnum & Mason and organised by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers. The 1999 Wild Irish Salmon run was very disheartening. The rod season started well with an encouraging Spring run, but this was not continued for the rest of the year. On the rivers, when they were fishable, rod catches were good, but the commercial sea fishery experienced one of the worst June and July periods ever. We must hope that the measures introduced by government in the last two years will begin to have an improving effect on wild salmon stocks next year. As a result we find ourselves faced with the prospect of running out of Wild Salmon during the Christmas rush. We therefore urge you to order your requirements *NOW* and we would also recommend that you take delivery of the smoked salmon earlier than usual. It does freeze particularly well. We may also experience difficulty in fulfilling specific sizes but we will endeavour to match our stock with your order; first come, first served. Our web site was a finalist in the Irish Sunday Business Post Web Site of The Year Awards and has received much favourable comment. All feedback is very welcome as improvement is always possible. Planning for the new smokehouse, our very own millennium project, has taken longer than anticipated, but work is now in progress, with completion expected in the spring when we will be able to welcome visitors. Unfortunately, my father Keith Creswell, who set up Ummera Smoked Products in 1971, died earlier this year and will not be here to see the exciting new developments in the Company. However the Company has recruited a new director, Harriet, who also took the plunge and joined the family by marrying me in January. All of us here wish you a very Happy Christmas and a great start to the new Millennium. Great Taste Awards 1999 Sponsored by Fortnum & Mason, the Guild of Fine Food Retailers' held their Great Taste Awards in September. These awards seek to define the very best speciality foods from around the world and set them apart from the mainstream. Ummera Smoked Wild Salmon was given a Bronze Award and was category Winner in the Smoked Wild Salmon category. Naturally, we are delighted! Bridgestone Irish Food Guide 1999 Ummera was awarded an Icon Award in this year's guide published this September. An Icon is given to "those producers, restaurateurs, shopkeepers and hosts who produce the most outstanding food, cooking and hospitality." See our Reviews page for the full story! New Smokehouse - September 1999 Update Plans are well advanced for the new smokehouse at Inchybridge, Timoleague. The site is cleared and the foundations poured; Building should commence shortly with completion in early Spring; our millennium project! This facility will blend the best of the traditional aspects of smoking with modern techniques and equipment. Part of the development will incorporate a visitor amenity area with viewing areas and riverside walks. 1999 Fishing Report The 1999 season for wild salmon was, as far as the South West coast of Ireland was concerned, one of the worst for many, many years. The spring salmon run into the rivers such as the Lee, Blackwater and Bandon was quite encouraging, with large fish being seen and caught. When the drift net season started at the beginning of June, the salmon were scarce, but of a good size. From June 20th onwards, the fishermen anticipated the run of peal or grilse - young salmon who have spent one winter at sea. For unknown reasons, the run failed to happen. Off Dingle and the Shannon, the catches were fair, but elsewhere, both North and South, it was probably the worst season ever. Norwegian Marine Institute. The Institute for Marine Research in Norway predict a good season next year for the wild Norwegian grilse/salmon. They conclude that sea currents, temperature and plankton play a substantial role in the nourishment and survival of the salmon in the sea. There is a close connection between warmer sea temperature and food resources in the Norwegian sea -- and the number of salmon in the rivers the fo- lowing years. During the recent years the less favourable conditions in the sea have had negative effects on the salmon stocks, the say, especially 1997 was bad with a high mortal rate and consequently a low number of salmon returning to the rivers. The smolt leaving the rivers this year, however, face much better conditions in the sea as a result of the last year's high sea temperature. There is more plan ton which in turn give more prey to the grilse. If the situation continues, we might see a noticeable increase in the salmon catches in 2001. The research netting in the sea also indicate that there is more salmon in the open sea this year than the recent years.