of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



211 



Coast and line fishing in local waters, while a considerable number are 

 scattered over the country at various other employments. Should the 

 restriction by the Admiralty on the West Coast fishing be continued, it is 

 hoped that the local fishermen affected will be employed at cod-net fishing 

 in the Moray Firth. 



Cod-net fishing was prosecuted during February and March with I'ather 

 indifierent results. The largest fleet at work numbered 32 steam drifters 

 and 34 sail boats which operated on the usual fishing grounds north and 

 north-west of Lossiemouth. There was a good demand practically through- 

 out the season, prices ranging from 18s. to 66s. per score, with the result 

 that the great bulk of the catch was dispatched in a fresh state to the 

 southern markets. Compared with the previous season the total catch 

 showed a shortcoming of 6609 cwts. and £2521 in quantity and value re- 

 respectively. 



At Inverness the herring and sprat fishing was prosecuted with con- 

 siderable success during the last two months of the year, the financial 

 results being the best obtained since 1907. The largest number of boats 

 operating was 45, of which the majority belonged to the adjoining district 

 of Cromarty. The premature close of the English fishing caused an 

 excellent demand, and prices for herrings ranged from 12s. to 46s., and for 

 sprats from 10s. to 40s. per cran. The earnings of the small boats employed 

 ranged from £100 to £300. Of the sprats 1840 barrels were preserved with, 

 a preparation of sugar and spice, and were shipped to Leith for exporta- 

 tion to Sweden. The remainder of the sprats and the entire heriing 

 catch were, however, disposed of in a fresh state. Compared with 1913, 

 which was, however, an unusually unproductive season, the increase in 

 quantity and value respectively was 17,399 cwts. and £6388. 



From 40 to 70 boats were employed at line fishing, the maximum 

 number being at work from August onwards. During the early part of 

 the year landings showed a shortcoming, but with the increased number 

 of boats which carried on operations during the latter part of the year, 

 together with a slight improvement in the catches, the landings and value 

 show an increase of 2435 cwts. and £1455 compared with the returns for 

 1913. Despite the fact that a larger proportion than usual of the catches 

 consisted of small haddocks, prices were well maintained, particularly so 

 during the last months of the year, when fishing operations were so much 

 restricted in the North Sea, and so many trawlers were withdrawn from 

 fishing operations. 



The boat-building trade was particularly brisk previous to the crisis, 

 4 steam drifters being built at Lossiemouth, and several small sailing 

 boats, while 4 steam drifters were built at Inverness. Prospects during 

 the continuance of the war are exceedingly dark, with the result that 

 most of the workmen have temporarily removed to the larger centres. 

 Coopers were all employed previous to August, but since less than half 

 the number have been employed at their own occupation, and the 

 individual output has been considerably restricted by employers. 



Fortunately no life was lost in connection with the industry. Four 

 sail boats were wrecked and three steam drifters were considerably 

 damaged during the year. Cod-net gear was frequently damaged by 

 foreign trawlers during the spring months, but the loss of herring fishing 

 gear was considerably less than in previous years owing to the restricted 

 operations. 



William Sinclair, 



Fishery Officer, 



Fishery Office, 

 Lossiemouth, 6th J anuary l^lb. 



