210 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



At the close of the suininer herring fishing, owing to the only firm of 

 fishcurers here having been left with a large stock of empty barrels, the 

 coopers of the district were all thrown idle, and were not engaged to make 

 barrels until the end of November, when the majority of them started work 

 here. Some of them left home and found barrel-making jobs in other 

 places. 



The women who went from the district as gutters and packers to the 

 summer herring fishing numbered 255, and to the English fishing, 180. 

 Their average earnings (inoluding arles) at the summer fishing amounted 

 to £39 per crew of 3 women, and at the Enghsh fishing to £42 per 

 crew. It may be interesting here to state that the total earnings of these 

 women for the 2 fishings (including cost of fares to the curing stations, 

 and lodgings provided by their employers) amounted in 1913 to £7149, 

 or £40 more than the value of all the fish returned for the district in that 

 year. 



The men who went as hired hands to the summer herring fishings had 

 earnings which varied from £16 to £110, the average being £94 for those 

 with nets, and £45 for those without nets. At the Enghsh fishing the average 

 earnings were £45 for those with nets, and £28 for those without nets. 



The average gross earnings of the 9 steam drifters belonging to 

 this district were £1052 at the summer herring fishing, and £559 at the 

 Enghsh fishing. Nine saiHng boats, the same number as in the previous 

 year, averaged £371 at the summer fishing — the only fishing at which they 

 were employed. 



To provide for fishermen desirous of obtaining certificates of com- 

 petency as ex-sldppers, skippers, and second hands of fishing vessels, the 

 School Boards of Helmsdale and Embo have each included navigation 

 in the list of subjects to be taught at their evening continuation classes. 

 The schemes of work have been arranged so as to meet the requirements 

 of the examination of candidates for these certificates. An examination 

 held in April resulted in 7 of the fishermen passing successfully for 

 skippers, and 5 for second hands. Previous to 1913 skipper's certificates 

 had been obtained by 8 of the fishermen ; so that, up to the end of 

 1913, there are belonging to this district 15 passed skippers, and 5 

 passed second hands. Of these, 4 skippers and 3 second hands 

 belong to Embo, 5 skippers and 2 second hands to Helmsdale, and 

 6 skippers to Dunbeath. At Helmsdale 20, and at Embo 16 fisher- 

 men enrolled themselves for the session 1913-14. Of these, at the end of 

 the year, 28 were attending the classes regularly and taking a keen interest 

 in the lessons. 



The fishery barometer at Dunbeath is in good order. 



Alexander Wood. 

 Fishery Officer, 



Fishery Office, 

 Helmsdale, %th January 1914. 



LyhsterJDistrict. 



It cannot be said that the status of this district has in any respect 

 improved since reported upon a year ago. Little change in the means of 

 capture has been efJected. The number of fishermen has sfightly decreased, 

 and the general results of the year's work show a dechne when compared 

 with those of the previous year. 



Of recent years the winter herring fishing on the coast grounds has been 



