Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xli 



Cromarty District. 



From north side of Kessock Ferry to south side of Meikle Ferry, Boundary of 



both inclusive. District. 



District Fishery Office — Cromarty. 



The summer herring fishing was prosecuted only to a very limited Boats em- 

 extent in Cromarty district. 135 first-class boats belong to the P l °yed. 

 district, but, with the exception ot 23, all of them fished elsewhere. 

 These 23 boats were employed at Portmahomack, and the herrings 

 they landed gave an average catch of lOOf crans to each. In 1885, Particulars of 

 the average catch per boat was 149 crans. The herrings landed Fishing, 

 were of fairly good quality. The fishing grounds lay from 4 to 6 

 miles off shore. The weather was remarkably fine all the season, 

 and the industry was regularly prosecuted. The most successful 

 week was that ending 7th August, when the average catch was 52 

 crans per boat, being more than one-half of the whole season's 

 fishing. Prices were generally low, ranging from 5s. to 12s. a cran. p r i ces i ow< 



The winter herring fishing was fairly successful. It was prose- Winter 

 cuted during the months of January, February, and March chiefly Fishing, 

 by strange boats. About 1166 crans were lauded, all of which 

 were sent off fresh for immediate consumption. 



Helmsdale District. 



From north side of Meikle Ferry to Dunbeath, both inclusive. Boundary of 



District. 



District Fishery Office — Helmsdale. 



Helmsdale district had a fleet of 84 boats in 1886, of which 75 Fleet of Boats, 

 fished at Helmsdale and 9 at Dunbeath, being a decrease of 4 boats, 

 as compared with the number in 1885. The fishing opened on opening and 

 20th July — about the same time as in the previous year — and jjgj^ 0 ' 

 closed on 28th August. It was prosecuted chiefly on the in- <lslins- 

 shore grounds lying from 4 to 6 miles off land. Trials were occ a- Particulars of 

 sionally made in waters 10 to 25 miles seaward, but the takes Fishing, 

 got there were small. The fishing was interrupted two nights 

 in July by stormy weather ; but with this exception the season was 

 remarkably fine, and the boats got regularly to sea. The average 

 catch per boat was 126 J crans, as compared with 121 crans in 

 1885. The most successful boat landed altogether 200 crans, and 

 the least successful 50 crans. More than half of the season's 

 catch was got during the week ending 7th August, which gave Quality of 

 the high average of 81^- crans per boat. The quality of the fish Fish - 

 was fairly good, and above the average of recent years. The Barrels Cured, 

 quantity cured was 18,336 barrels, against 16,039 barrels in 1885. 



The winter herring ftshing was carried on from 1st January till Winter 

 the middle of March. The total catch amounted to 2527 crans, as Flshin °' 

 compared with 1069 crans in 1885. At first, the takes brought Particulars 

 from 28s. to 32s. a cran ; but thereafter, owing to the southern thereof - 

 markets becoming glutted with herrings, sales could scarcely be 

 effected at all, and the average price for the whole season would 

 not exceed 4s. a cran. Both fishermen and buyers became much 

 discouraged in consequence, and little energy was afterwards 

 shown in prosecuting the fishing. 



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