oj the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



211 



extremely disappointing, so much so, that fishermen have ceased to make 

 any special arrangements for its prosecution. During most of the month 

 of January, however, there was a continuation of strong south-east gales, 

 which made any attempt at herring fishing impossible. A good many years 

 have elapsed since the winter herring fishing was so entirely blank as in the 

 year under review. 



From early in June to the first week in September the summer herring 

 fishing was prosecuted in most favourable weather upon the inshore grounds. 

 At different periods, from 7 to 11 crews were employed. The craft made 

 use of were generally from 30 to 40 feet of keel, and unprovided with steam- 

 hauling power. Operations were conducted as near to the land as they 

 could with safety approach, and the better to accomplish this, no bush 

 ropes were used in connection with the nets, which were mounted on the 

 old system, with back ropes and cork floats on the top, and stones on 

 the bottom for the purpose of sinking them in the water. The total catch 

 for the season was 563 crans, being more than twice the quantity for the 

 previous year. On the whole, the fish were of very good quality, and 

 realised from 25s. to 33s. per cran. A total of £791 was realised, which 

 gave an average price of 27s. 9d. per cran, as compared with 21s. 4d. for 

 1912. 



Under present conditions there is not much prospect of any revival of 

 the herring fishing taking place in this district. The bulk of the fishermen 

 do not earn a sufficient amount of money to enable them to improve their 

 position. Those of the crews who are fairly well equipped with boats and 

 nets prefer to prosecute the herring fishing from Wick, the most pro- 

 ductive grounds being much more easily reached from that port than from 

 Lybster. There is also a deeper harbour there than at Lybster, and at the 

 larger port there is more competition for the fish, and better facilities for 

 their disposal and dispatch when cured, and consequently the proceeds of 

 their labour can be disposed of to better advantage. 



Line fishing was not nearly so successfully prosecuted as it was during 

 the previous year, the quantity and value of the catch being more than 

 50 per cent, less than in 1912. Both in the first and last quarters of the 

 year unfavourable weather prevailed, strong south and south-east gales 

 blowing almost incessantly, which to some extent accounted for the de- 

 ficiency in the catch. Besides that, however, fish were not so abundant 

 upon the grounds usually frequented by fishermen, as during the two 

 preceding years. Most of the catch was forwarded to Wick for sale, or 

 sent direct to the southern markets, a portion being disposed of for con- 

 sumption in the district. Owing to the reduced landings, prices were 

 somewhat higher than in the preceding year. 



No motor boats have yet been acquired by any of the crews of this 

 district. For a part of the 5^ear one of the Lybster crews had one on hire. 

 It was used for the prosecution of the fine fishing, for which purpose it was 

 very well adapted, and had considerable advantage over the small saiHng 

 craft. Unfortunately it could not be kept regularly at work on account of 

 adverse weather conditions, but when favourable opportunities did occur 

 very satisfactory results were frequently obtained. 



Lobster fishing engaged the attention of a few fishermen in the district, 

 but no great success attended their efforts. Operations were very much 

 interrupted, owing to the frequency with which creels were destroyed by 

 the heavy seas. 



As there is now only one curer who makes barrels in this district, em- 

 plojmient for coopers has decreased very much, and a large number have 

 therefore gone to other districts where their services are more in demand. 



One of the Lybster fishermen was lost at sea in a rather mysterious 

 manner when on passage from Wick to Lybster in a motor fishiiig boat. 

 No serious loss or damage to boats or gear was sustained during the year. 



