Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xxiii 



our 



We are also favourably disposed to assist in the construction of Board favour- 

 a pier at Broadford, in Skye, the centre of a large population ; and to^kf Harbm 

 we have come to a clear opinion as to the claims of Balintore, in Works at 

 Boss-shire, for harbour accommodation there. At present we are g^f^tore 1 and 

 in communication with persons who are promoting the erection of 

 works at these places, and we trust that, in the course of the 

 present season, arrangements will be made for their being carried 

 out. 



Exceeding all other applications in importance is Stonehaven. Stonehaven 

 The present harbour accommodation consists of an outer harbour Harbour ; ^ 

 measuring 2 J acres, and an inner harbour measuring 2\ acres, oflmproved 0 6 

 These harbours are quite dry at low water of spring tides, and accommoda- 

 only the inner one is considered safe in bad weather. With the tlon ' 

 exception of a small pier inside the harbour, no works of any 

 kind have been undertaken at Stonehaven since those carried 

 out according to the design of the late Mr Robert Stevenson in 

 1812. It is somewhat surprising that, for so long a period as 

 seventy-five years, the undoubtedly great capabilities of this bay 

 for harbour extension should not have been taken advantage of, 

 and turned to account for the encouragement of the fisheries and 

 the general trade. Situated immediately opposite the centre 

 of very rich fishing grounds, it has a large fishing population ; Position of 

 while at the same time, as it lies on an exposed and rock-bound matters, 

 coast, and is perhaps the most sheltered spot of any place be- 

 tween Cromarty and the Firth of Forth, it could easily be made 

 into an excellent harbour of refuge. It is also to be observed 

 that, owing to the dangerous character of the neighbouring creeks, 

 and the enlargement of fishing boats, many fishermen have been 

 obliged to remove to Stonehaven with their boats, with the result 

 that the accommodation there is insufficient for the increasing fish- 

 ing population, and the progress of the industry is in consequence 

 greatly retarded. 



Some years ago a marine survey, with relative soundings and Two designs 

 probe borings, in order to ascertain the nature of the bottom of the submitted by 

 bay, was made by Messrs D. & T. Stevenson, engineers, and two ngmeers ' 

 designs, with relative report, were submitted by them for the 

 improvement and extension of the harbour — the one estimated 

 to cost £24,000, and the other about £67,000; but they very 

 strongly advised that, if it were possible to raise the necessary 

 funds, it would in every way be preferable to adopt the larger 

 scheme. 



While the construction of some such design as this lesser scheme Extremely 

 would tend in no small degree towards developing the fisheries, desirab J e * bat 

 still, if carried out, it would not afford facilities for fishing boats should be ° 

 entering the harbour at low water, and it is, therefore, not unrea- ^ ^ r t ri c e Qs t out, 

 sonable to suppose that, after a time, it might be found necessary beyond re- 

 to build additional works, so that boats could get into the harbour g™ r c d es of 

 at all states of the tide, and thus the money expended on the oar ' 

 smaller scheme would practically be thrown away. Altogether, there- 

 fore, it is extremely desirable that some such plan as that shown 

 in the larger design should be carried out, but to face so large an 

 outlay is wholly beyond the existing resources of the Board, even 

 with considerable local assistance. 



