of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



219 



extent that of any former year. In general, these strangers were persevering, 

 industrious, and well equipped for the work, and consequently were rewarded 

 M'ith a fair amount of success. Some of the English craft were the best 

 fished vessels operating from the port. 



It looked at one time as if the year was to pass without any casualty 

 involving the loss of life. Unfortunately, however, on 17th December a 

 lobster boat belonging to Kirtomy was swamped, and the whole crew of five 

 men were drowned. 



Along the coast of Caithness, from East Mey to Wick, eleven fishery 

 barometers are provided for the use of the fishermen. They are all in a 

 satisfactory condition, and continue to be of service to the fishermen in the 

 localities where they are placed. 



The work of extending and improving the harbour of "Wick has now been 

 in progress for well-nigh three years. It is expected that the part 

 of the seheme which embraces the improving and extending of the 

 south harbour will be completed by the time the next summer herring fish- 

 ing commences. Work in connection with the new outer harbour has, 

 however, been somewhat slow, owing to the unfavourable weather that has 

 frequently been experienced, and it will therefore be some considerable time 

 before it is completed. 



James Ritchie, 



Fishery Office, Fishery Oficer. 



Wick, 5th January 1911. 



Orkney District. 



The quantity and value of fish landed in this district during the year 

 under review considerably exceeded the record of any previous year, and, 

 compared with the returns for 1909, show the large increase of 166,693 

 cwts. and .£33,284 respectively. This gratifying result was very largely 

 due to the successful operations of an increased number of steam drifters, 

 belonging chiefly to Moray Firth ports, operating from Stronsay during the 

 great summer herring fishing. Of the total quantity and value of white fish 

 landed in the district, herrings contributed 86 and 88 per cent, respectively. 

 While the herring fishing in this district is being rapidly developed by 

 steam vessels, the number of district fishermen engaged in the industry is 

 steadily declining, owing largely to their inability to procure the expensive 

 type of modern craft. 



In the means of capture returns a considerable decrease is shown in the 

 number and tonnage of boats belonging to the district, due to the older 

 herring boats being laid aside, and, in several cases, not being replaced 

 Motor power was installed during the year into four additional small boats 

 employed in line fishing, two of which were specially built at Stromness for 

 this method of propulsion, and there is little doubt but that motor power 

 would be more generally applied throughout the district were it not that 

 line fishing has not been proving sufficiently remunerative. 



Although as recently as 1901 Stromness was the principal herring-curing 

 station in the district, the poor results obtained during recent years have led 

 to its total abandonment as a herring-fishing centre, and during the year 

 under review no herrings were cured there. 



The great summer herring fishing was prosecuted with considerable 

 success from Stronsay, Holm, Burray, and Kirkwall, the results showing an 

 increase of 47,059 crans and £32,589 compared with the previous season. 

 Seven-eighths of the total catch was landed at Stronsay, which is rapidly 

 developing as a herring-curing centre. A commencement was made as early 

 as the third week in May, but not until the middle of June were operations 

 in full swing. From the latter period until the end of August the fleet at 



