216 



Ap2Jendices to Twenty-ninth Annual Beport 



Cod and haddock fishing yielded results somewhat similar to those of the 

 preceding year. Codlings were met with in fair abundance at different 

 periods throughout the year, and when the weather conditions were such as 

 permitted of the boats getting to sea during the last quarter of the year 

 fairly satisfactory takes of haddocks were procured. The haddocks landed 

 consisted chiefly of small and medium-sized fish. 



One of the district crews was equipped with a fleet of cod-nets. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, they were not successful in turning them to a profitable 

 account. It was discovered that the boat they had in use was too small for 

 remaining by their nets at sea overnight, which it was necessary to do owing 

 to the number of fishing craft at work in the vicinity. 



In the report of the district for the year 1909 mention was made of the 

 fact that one firm of fish-curers that employed about four-fifths of the coopers 

 at Lybster had discontinued operations there, a decision which was likely to 

 make a considerable reduction in the number of coopers employed in the 

 district. With the view of providing employment for those coopors, and 

 thereby retaining them in the village, several persons who are interested in 

 the place have organised a private barrel-making company, by whom the 

 coopers are now employed. So far the venture has been quite successful. 

 The company was favoured with an excellent start in business, as there was 

 a keen demand for barrels last summer, at remunerative prices. Sufficient 

 cooperage and storage accommodation have been acquired at a moderate 

 rent, and there are also facilities at their command for the dispatching of 

 supplies of barrels by sea or rail to any of the important curing centres. 



Fortunately, there was no serious accident in connection with the prose- 

 cution of the industry in the district, nor was any serious loss of gear 

 sustained. 



The only public barometer in the district is the one placed at Lybster 

 harbour. It is always well attended to, and continues to serve satisfactorily 

 he purpose for which it was intended. 



The outstanding feature of the year's work in connection with the fishing 

 industry of this district was the very successful summer herring fishing. In 

 the history of the port (which is the oldest established centre on the East 

 Coast of Scotland), the catch formed a record one, as it exceeded that of any 

 former season. 



Of late years there has been a considerable decrease in the means of 

 capture of this district, and the decline is still going on. Sailing craft are 

 wearing out, and, as no vessels are being built to make good the wastage, 

 under present conditions the decline cannot possibly be arrested. In the 

 course of the past year a number of good second-hand boats were purchased 

 by crews belonging to Wick, but the number was not sufiicient to replace 

 those that were discarded. For the past two years the number of steam 

 fishing craft owned in the district has remained stationary. 



Comparing the total catch of the district with that of the preceding year, 

 an increase of more than one-half in the quantity, and about one-fourth 

 in the value, is observed. The greater relative increase in the quantity as 

 compared with the value, is accounted for by the moderate prices paid for 

 herrings in the early stages of the summer herring fishing. 



Although the winter herring fishing was, as usual, prosecuted from Wick 

 in the early part of the year, it was not pursued to the same extent as in 

 some former seasons. Various influences were at work in bringing this 



Fishery Office, 

 Wick, 5th January 1911. 



James Ritchie, 



Fishery Officer. 



Wick District. 



