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Appendices to Fifth Annual Report 



sadly harried, I feel confident that if the right to the oyster fisheries of Orkney, 

 particularly Firth, could be obtained on favourable terms, and the oysters pro- 

 tected for a few years, they would rapidly increase, and a considerable revenue 

 flow therefrom, and the public benefited thereby. Now, to come to what may 

 be termed the practical part and the business before us, I would propose that the 

 Commissioners of Supply should endeavour to acquire the full right to the 

 oyster fishing in the Bay of Firth, and should it be found not competent to do 

 this in their corporate capacity, I would suggest that the Commissioners per- 

 sonally should interest themselves, and take, say £1 shares, and work the 

 fisheries up until they had recouped themselves, the principal and interest on the 

 shares, with the distinct understanding that immediately this is done — and I 

 think under proper management it could be accomplished in the course of a very 

 few years — that they shall become bound to hold the oyster beds in trust for the 

 benefit of the county, by using the profits derived from the fisheries towards 

 the reduction of the country assessments. I may state that if you apply to the 

 Scotch Fishery Board, you would find that you could possess these oyster beds 

 on very favourable terms. In No. 4 of the Fishery Board regulations, it is 

 stated that powers would be granted for regulating or restricting the unlimited 

 fishing of oyster or mussel beds, ' in a case where it is proved that such fishing 

 ' is carried on in so wasteful a manner as to have an effect upon existing beds, 

 * and diminishing the supply without any corresponding advantage to the public' 

 In another clause it is stated that ' the only ground for the concession of 

 ' exclusive fishery rights or restrictive powers over any portion of the sea shore 

 ' is in the expectation that by this means the supply of oysters or mussels will be 

 ' materially increased, and the public thereby benefited. Such expectation must 

 ' consequently be shown to exist in all cases of orders under this Act, and espe- 

 ' dally in the case of an order affecting an already productive dredging ground.' 

 I think we could have no difficulty in satisfying the Fishery Board on these 

 points. I should like if you would appoint a committee to consider the whole 

 matter, and to get particulars from the Fishery Board. There would be little or 

 no working expenses at the outs tart. The chief thing is to protect the oyster 

 beds, because an oyster takes three years to come to maturity. The oyster 

 increases at an enormous rate — one of them throwing off annually one to two 

 million spats ; and though all these do not come to maturity, still if they are 

 well cultured a good percentage of them can be got. I hope a committee will 

 be appointed to consider the whole subject. 



The result of this speech was that, after some discussion, Mr Watt's 

 motion was agreed to, and General Burroughs, Mr W. D. Baikie, Mr 

 Fortescue, Provost Reid, Bailie Peace, and Mr Watt were appointed a 

 committee to consider the whole question — Mr Watt to be Convener.* 



SHETLAND ISLANDS. 



There are 29 inhabited islands in the Shetland group • 71 islets used for 

 grazing purposes; and a large number of waste rocky holms and skerries. 

 The area of the islands is 551*4 miles, or 352,876 acres, while that of the 

 Orkneys is only 240,47 6 acres. All the islands, except Fair Isle and Foula, 

 form a pretty compact group, the most southern part of which is 50 miles 

 from the Point of Sinsoss, the most northerly extremity of North Eonald- 

 shay, in Orkney. Fair Isle is about midway between Orkney and Shet- 

 land, being 27 miles northwards from the Point of Sinsoss, and 24 miles 

 southwards from Sumburgh Head, the southernmost extremity of Shet- 



* Mr Watt, as Convener of the Committee thus appointed, put himself in com- 

 munication with the Fisher)' Board for Scotland in .November last, and a copy of 

 the Board's printed regulations, under 'The Sea Fisheries (Scotland) Amendment 

 1 Act, 1885,' with regard to oysters and mussels was afterwards sent him, and it is 

 to be hoped that some decisive action will shortly be taken to restore these valuable 

 but now almost exhausted fisheries. 



