208 



A'ppendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



Others were attracted to service in the Mercantile Marine. These latter 

 ^Yere mostly Cromarty young men, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty- 

 three years. Comparatively few of the youths in this town now seem 

 disposed to follow their fathers in fishery pursuits, the majority preferring 

 occupations other than fishing. Though no steam drifters or motor boats 

 are o^^Tled in the district, yet 3 of the former, registered, elsewhere, were 

 manned entirely by district crews. Fishermen have not yet adopted 

 motor power as an auxiliary. 



At the close of the summer herring fishing fully 40 Avoch and 2 

 Cromarty crews fitted out for sprat and small herring fishing. Operations 

 were conducted in the Inverness and Beauly Firths, and for a short time 

 in the Cromarty Firth. Though the waters were searched most assidu- 

 ously, no dense shoals were struck at any period. At the close of the season 

 in December it was found that the average earnings of crews were little 

 over a third of the returns of the preceding year. Inverness was, as usual, . 

 the port of landing. 



Numerous factors contributed to the decline in the small-line fishery. 

 Haddocks were scarcer than during the preceding season, weather con- 

 ditions were not so favourable, and fewer boats were employed. This 

 latter circumstance was due to the fact that a number of men wrought as 

 navvies at the Admiralty construction works on the Cromarty Sutors for 

 five months of the year. Arrivals were 2138 fewer than in 1912, and the 

 average catch was 2-4 cwt. in comparison with 2-6 cwt. in 1912. The 

 maximum number of boats at work was 68 against 76 in 1912. One 

 noticeable feature was the predominance of large and medium haddocks 

 over the small selection. A larger proportion of the catch than formerly 

 was sold for use in the district. The presence of H.M. ships in these waters 

 for a considerable period explains that, as also the increase in the average 

 price realised. Small consignments were sent to Inverness and Aberdeen 

 at certain seasons. The bait used was mussels and " buckies," both of 

 which were procured free of -cost from the adjacent beds. The catch of 

 flat fish was small, but up to the previous year's standard. 



The gathering of whelks received attention during the spring months, 

 but the revenue from this occupation was not of large amount. The 

 produce was sent to London market. Crabs and lobsters are not plentiful 

 in this district, and the location and capture are confined to one small 

 section. 



No provision was made for the teaching of technical subjects to adult 

 fishermen, and there was no demand for such, but the various School 

 Boards in the district instituted evening continuation classes where fisher 

 youths were taught navigation and cookery. These classes were well 

 attended, and the boys exhibited great interest in their work. A knowledge 

 of cookery is being acquired for the purpose of starting a seafaring life as 

 cooks on board steam drifters and other vessels. 



There was a total immunity from loss of life, and the damage to boats 

 and gear was less than the average amount. 



The 5 fishery barometers remaining in the district are all in good order, 

 and continue to give satisfaction to fishermen at the various creeks. 



Alex. E. M'Kenzie, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Cromarty, bth January 1914. 



