of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



213 



boats occasionally landed their catches in the district. Operations were 

 conducted chiefly on the Caithness coast between Bruan and the Ord of 

 Caithness. 



In general, the results were not over satisfactory, and did not equal 

 those of former years, owing to scarcity of fish. Most of the fish caught 

 were much Hghter in weight than in previous years. A keen demand 

 prevailed, and prices considerably above the average were realised. The 

 total quantity of net caught cod landed at the port of Wick was only 

 about one-third of that landed in the previous year. Whatever may have 

 been the reason, there was every indication that fish were more abundant 

 and of better quahty further up the Firth. 



In the behef that there would be a plentiful supply of herrings upon the 

 grounds, as has been the case for some years past, fishermen and curers 

 made preparations for commencing the summer herring fishing about the 

 middle of May. Every one looked forward to having a repetition of the 

 prosperous season of 1912. Indeed, the prevaiHng idea was that it might 

 be exceeded, and at the port of Wick the preparations for dealing with the 

 season's catch were, therefore, on a more extensive scale than ever before. 



Early in the season there was every indication that Wick was to have a 

 good fleet of fishing craft, as the satisfactory results of the early fishing in 

 recent years had made the port a popular one. In the early weeks of 

 the season the fishing did not prove so successful as was anticipated, and 

 in consequence, a good many of the crews proceeded to other parts of 

 the coast. Some of the curers also drafted a portion of their workers to 

 other stations. Almost up to the end of July it appeared as if the catch 

 was to be an extremely poor one, but, contrary to the experience of recent 

 years, August proved to be the best part of the season, nearly half of the 

 catch being landed during that month. 



One prominent feature of the August fishing was the landing of a 

 great number of heavy takes, ranging from 100 to 214 crans. In that 

 respect, there was a great contrast with 1912, when there was only one 

 individual catch of over 100 crans. Throughout the whole of the season 

 fish of very good quality were caught, and the fact that the quality was 

 maintained right up to the end of August surprised every one in the trade. 

 Few could recall such an experience. 



Very fine weather prevailed throughout the whole of the season. 

 Indeed, it was generally believed that the fishing would have been more 

 profitably pursued had the weather been of a somewhat rougher character. 

 It was a very rare occurrence for sailing craft to be seen under reefed 

 canvas. 



Unusually high prices were paid for the bulk of the herrings landed. 

 The range was from lOs. to 53s. per cran, and from 33s. to 45s. was 

 commonlv paid. The average price was 38s 6d., as compared with 26s. 3d. 

 in 1912. 



The greatest number of boats that operated from Wick at one time 

 was 325, while in the previous year it was fully 400. Steam drifters had 

 earnings of from £950 to £1950, motors £700 to £1350, and sailers £200 to 

 £800. A number of steamers had individual takes which realised from 

 £340 to £402. 



Operations were most successfully conducted from 18 to 30 miles off, 

 from east by north to east-south-east. To most of the fishermen the 

 venture was a very successful one, but the contrary was the case with the 

 majority of the curers, as the prices paid for fresh herrings were much too 

 high to leave a large margin of profit. With some it is to be feared there 

 was no profit. 



Arrangements were made by two firms for conducting an extensive 

 trade in the dispatching of fresh herrings, put up in ice and salt, to 



