of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



21 



The vessel then steamed in the direction of the Cromarty Firth and 

 made a number of hauls off the Suters of Cromarty. The distance from 

 the Suters was about five miles to the east, and the depth varied from 

 about 18 to 35 fathoms. The first drag, on the 9th February, lasted for 

 3| hours, the depths taken being 25, 18, and 35 fathoms. The number 

 of fishes caught was 1357, of which 1113 were marketable and 244 

 unmarketable. In this haul plaice were barely represented, the total 

 being 13, and it is noteworthy that 4 were small (thirds), 7 were 

 mediums, and 2 large ; there were none belonging to the fourth class. 

 The bulk of the catch consisted of witches, of which there were 9 basket- 

 fuls, the number being 850, and of these 792 were marketable and 58 

 too small to be taken to market. Among the other flat fishes were 1 

 turbot, 4 lemon dabs, 224 common dabs, and 23 long rough dabs ; but, 

 in contrast to the hauls off Burghead, no brill were taken. Among the 

 round-fishes, haddocks were much better represented, and the medium - 

 sized fish, practically absent off Burghead Bay, were fairly represented. 

 The total number of haddocks was 132, all but 13 being market- 

 able ; 8 were large, 58 medium, and 53 small (thirds). The number 

 of cod caught was 16, and there were 6 marketable codlings and 1 

 coal-fish. 



The depths got in the next haul in the same locality, which lasted for 

 three hours and thirty-five minutes, were 23 and 29 fathoms. The 

 number of fishes taken was 1774, of which 1411 were marketable and 

 363 unmarketable. The catch differed from the previous one in that 

 plaice and haddocks were much more abundant and witches less abundant. 

 The number of plaice taken was 278, three of them being too small to be 

 marketable; of the marketable, 4 were large, 129 medium, 99 were 

 thirds, and 43 fourths. The witches numbered 493, of which 477 were 

 marketable, and the great majority were large. Among other flat-fishes 

 were 3 brill, 2 lemon dabs, 242 common dabs, and 119 long rough dabs 

 The number of haddocks taken was 536, of which 483 were of marketable 

 size, and 53 too small to be taken to market. The catch also included 27 

 cod, 11 codling, all but 1 marketable, as well as 26 whiting, 1 coal-fish, 

 1 pollack, and 2 hake. Two other hauls were taken on the 10th, the 

 depths ascertained in the first being 12, 25, and 28 fathoms ; this haul 

 lasted for three hours and fifteen minutes. The catch consisted of 1080 

 fishes, 963 being marketable and 117 unmarketable. Plaice and haddocks 

 were best represented. The former numbered 326, all marketable, there 

 being 4 large, 150 medium, 115 thirds, and 57 fourths. There were 438 

 haddocks, 419 of which were marketable, and they almost entirely 

 consisted of mediums. Witches numbered 197, all but 7 being market- 

 able ; and the catch included 5 cod, 1 hake, 2 brill, and 38 long rough 

 dabs. The fourth drag, also on the 10th, lasted for four hours and fifteen 

 minutes, tha depths being 15, 18, and 25 fathoms. The catch amounted 

 to 947 fishes, 831 being marketable and 116 unmarketable. There were 

 461 witches, all marketable and mostly large; 17 plaice, all marketable 

 and consisting of large and mediums ; 1 megrim was also taken, as well 

 as a number of dabs. Among the round-fishes were 312 haddocks, of 

 which 281 were marketable, 279 of them being mediums, and 2 large. 

 There were 14 cod, 10 codlings, a hake, and a gurnard. 



Altogether, in the four drags taken in the deepish water to the east of 

 the Suters of Cromarty, the actual duration of trawling being fourteen 

 hours and thirty -five minutes, the aggregate number of fishes caught was 

 5158, of which 4318 were marketable and 840 were unmarketable. The 

 particulars as to the different fishes are shown in the following Table, 

 the marketable being distinguished from the unmarketable. 



