214 



Appendices to Tiuenty-ninth Annual Report 



Shell-fish only contributed a small share to the earnings of the fisherfolk. 

 The edible varieties produced are confined to whelks, crabs, and lobsters. 

 The two latter kinds are not plentiful, and are restricted to small areas of 

 the district. Whelk-gathering was performed by young folks and women, 

 but was not so extensive as in 1909, The whelks were bought by 

 merchants for consignment to London market. The mussels landed were 

 used for bait. 



The loss of nets and other fishing gear on the English coast was 

 comparatively heavy. One crew lost two " fleets " of nets, while a number 

 also sufi'ered to a less extent. The total loss in this connection is esti- 

 mated at £570. 



One fisherman lost his life by falling overboard on passage home from 

 Fraserburgh. 



The six fishery barometers continue to give satisfaction to the fishermen 

 at the various stations. 



Fishery Office, Alex. E. M'Kenzie, 



Cromarty, bth January 1911. Fishery Officer. 



Helmsdale District. 



The returns of fish landed in Helmsdale district during the year 1910 

 show, when compared with those of the previous year, a considerable increase 

 both in quantity and in value. The results obtained in the year 1909 were, 

 however, the poorest on record. The increase was due to the line-fishing 

 having yielded better results — haddocks and codlings having been more 

 plentiful on the fishing grounds than they were in 1909. 



The principal changes in the means of capture returns were a further 

 decline of 3 in the number of sailing boats of the first class, and of 16 in the 

 number of fishermen. The boats were old, and having become useless for 

 fishing purposes, they were broken up. Of the 16 fishermen, some left the 

 district, and the remainder turned their attention to other occupations. 

 There was a considerable increase in the number and value of cod-nets, 

 which compensated for a decrease in the area and value of herring drift-nets. 



For the second year in succession, owing chiefly to unfavourable weather, 

 the plaice fishing at Embo and Golspie was unproductive. 



In February and March 4 large boats and 8 small yawls were employed at 

 the cod-net fishing. In every case where the nets were properly mounted 

 and well buoyed with glass floats, the results of the fishing were satisfactory. 

 Several of the crews failed to make the fishing a success owing to having 

 used cork floats. These soon became water-logged, and in that condition 

 they had not sufficient buoyancy to keep the nets upright in the water. In 

 this district only the fishermen of Helmsdale and Golspie have used nets for 

 the capture of cod, but probably the fishermen of the other creeks will also 

 adopt this method. 



As already mentioned, the results of the line-fishing were more satisfactory 

 than in the previous year. In that direction, however, there is still plenty 

 of room for iroprovement. The earnings of the fishermen when engaged at 

 haddock fishing and hand-line fishing were generally very meagre. 



The returns of crabs and lobsters show a falling-off' to the extent of £178 

 in value. The usual number of boats and creels were employed at the 

 fishing, but these shell-fish, particularly crabs, were much scarcer than they 

 were in 1909. 



In the early summer five of the district crews prosecuted the herring fishing 

 in the inshore waters of the Moray Firth, but the fishing again proved a 

 failure. 



There went from the district to the summer herring fishing 14 sailing 



