of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



213 



little difficulty in obtaining employrnent in the vicinity of Cromarty at a 

 fair rate of pay. 



Including the crews of 17 district boats and hired hands, about 380 

 men were absent at the summer herring fishing. The season on the 

 Enghsh Coast was entirely neglected. Fourteen boats averaged £180 at 

 Castlebay, and 17 averaged £97 on the East Coast of Scotland. Three 

 steam drifters, manned entirely by district crews, averaged £500 at tlie 

 summer fishing. 



The aggregate earnings of the crews of local boats and hired men 

 amounted to £15,000, or £10,700 less than in 1913. Included in tli<' a])ove 

 are the earnings from winter fishing in the Beauly Fii tli. Compared with 

 the preceding year the decrease is of large amount, but 1913 was an 

 exceptionally good year. 



The fisLer girls, who engage as gutters and packers, also suffered from 

 the dislocation following the declaration of w^ar. The earnings of the 240 

 who went to the early fishing were over £1000 less than in 1913. Only 27 

 were employed on the coast of England, in comparison with 154 iss the 

 previous year. Here the difference in tlie earnings was over £2(500. 

 Occupation as domestic servants was readily found. 



For the second successive season the results attendant on cod- net 

 fishing have not been so good as to encourage a rapid development, in 

 this connection. 



The changes in the means of capture were slight, and not of a pro- 

 gressive nature. The fleet of first-class boats remained the same, but thei e 

 was a reduction of 4 in the number of second and third-class boats. It 

 is hoped that the deflection of men to other than fishery pursuits will 

 only be of a temporary nature, and that after the war they will resume 

 their ordinary vocation. Fishermen show no disposition to invest in 

 motor engines. 



The abnormal conditions which diverted fishermen from small-line 

 fishing to other occupations, such as labouring at local construction work 

 in 1913, were accentuated in the year under review by the remunerative 

 employment offered by the Admiralty. Only a very small part of the 

 fleet remained at work at the close of the year. The arrivals were 421 

 fewer than in 1913, and 2559 less than in^l912. In direct contrast to the 

 preceding year there was a predominance of small haddocks in the catches. 

 The landings throughout were barely sufficient to meet the demand for 

 local consumption. The gathering of whelks in spring for dispatch to 

 London added a small amount to the revenue. 



The fisher lads who attended the evening continuation classes for the 

 teaching of navigation and cookery during the spring months made good 

 progress in both departments. Arrangements were made by the School 

 Boards to re-start the classes in October, but owing to the great demand 

 for labour locally, none of the youths came forward. When conditions 

 again become normal, it is hoped that the study of navigation and practice 

 in cookery will be resumed. 



For the second year in succession there was total immunity from loss 

 of life, and the loss on gear and damage to boats were below the average. 



All the fishery barometers in the district are in good order, and are 

 appreciated by those interested. 



Alex. E. M'Kenzie, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Cromarty, Uh January 1915. 



