of the Fisher If Board for Scotland. 



217 



about. Fewer Moray Firth crews fitted out for the prosecution of this fish- 

 ing on the Caithness coast, owing to the fact that a considerable number were 

 employed on the Nortli-West Coast of Ireland, while others were preparing 

 for en«;aging in the cod-net fishing. There was an entire absence of herrings 

 on the inshore grounds. Those caught were brought chiefly from the 

 grounds situated to the east of the Orkneys, ofi' Watersound, Copinshay, 

 and Auskerry, and what fish were landed were of very good quality. There 

 was a keen demand, and prices ranging from 20s. to 60s. 6d. per cran were 

 realised. For the season the average price paid per cran was 29s. 6d. 



A considerable addition was made to the number of boats equipped with 

 cod-nets, ten sailing craft and five steamers belonging to Wick making use 

 of that means of capture, as against only five sailers so equipped in 1909, 

 when it was introduced into the district. They fished chiefly to the south 

 of Wick, off the coast of Caithness and Sutherlandshire, very fair results on 

 the whole being obtained. During the months of March and April, when 

 the fish w^ere in good condition, very satisfactory prices were realised, but 

 for some weeks before operations ceased most of the fish were purchased 

 at moderate prices for drying purposes. The distance Wick is situated from 

 the industrial English centres makes the freshing of cod an impossibility in 

 the month of April. At that time some crews made a practice of delivering 

 their takes at Lossiemouth, where higher prices were obtainable. 



Early in May a few boats made a trial of the herring fishing from 

 Scrabster, but unfortunately they were not successful in locating fish off that 

 coast. After a number of unsuccessful attempts the crews at work removed 

 to other fishing ports. The catch for the season was 51 crans, a portion 

 of which was landed by boats on the passage from the West Coast. 



The herring fishing season of the past summer at Wick was an altogether 

 outstanding one in the history of the port. Fishing operations were pursued 

 for the lengthy period of about four months— from the middle of May to 

 the end of the first week of September. During that time only one blank 

 day was experienced, and that towards the close of the season. All through 

 the season remarkably fine weather was experienced. The only objectionable 

 feature was the frequent spells of calmness, which proved a hindrance to the 

 movements of the sailing craft, of which the fleet was largely composed. 

 June and July were the most productive months of the year, the best week's 

 catch being that ending 18th June, when 31,620 crans were landed. On 

 the Thursday of the same week, 10,365 crans were delivered, which consti- 

 tuted the heaviest day's catch of the season. For the craft in port that day 

 the average was 44^ crans. There was every indication that widespread shoals 

 were to be met with within easy access of the port. The fishing grounds 

 most frequented ranged from east by north to east-south-east, at a distance 

 of from 25 to 45 miles ojff. Although frequently tried, the inshore grounds ■ 

 proved entirely unproductive. Fish of a very satisfactory quality were 

 caught during the greater part of the season. At one stage of the season a 

 fleet of 400 vessels made Wick their centre of operations, and owing to the 

 limited harbour accommodation, which was then considerably curtailed by 

 the work of extension that was in progress, it was with difficulty that such 

 a number could be dealt with. Had the fleet not been of a mixed character, 

 that is, steam, motor, and sail, it would not have been possible. If the 

 available harbour area had been more spacious, a much larger number of 

 craft would have made the port their headquarters, and there is every 

 probability that, once the harbour extension scheme now on hand is com- 

 pleted. Wick as a fishing station will expand. Owing to the early 

 commencement that was made, and the successful catch got in the early 

 stages of the season, prices paid previous to the first week of July were 

 moderate. Their range all through was from 5s. to 30s. 6d. per cran, while 

 the average was 18s. 6d. Many of the well-equipped crews that worked 

 regularly from Wick were fortunate in having a remunerative season. 



