218 



Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



common occmTence. In several respects all former records were eclipsed. 

 A catch of 240 crans was delivered from a Banffshire steam drifter, which 

 was no doubt the largest catch ever delivered in the district from one boat. 

 Daily averages of from 50 to 80 crans were commoii. Takes of considerable 

 value were landed, the highest being £260. 



For the season the total landing was 46,251 crans, valued at £33,907. 

 With the exception of some small and odd shots delivered at Scrabster 

 and Thurso, the whole of the catch was dealt- with at Wick. Had it not 

 been that steam and motor propelled craft were employed, it would have 

 been impossible for Wick to have benefited as it did from the produce of 

 the northern grounds. Those crews that prosecuted the fishing throughout 

 the whole season had earnings of from £500 to £1200, with an average of 

 about £700. 



It was for f resiling, kippering, curing, and bait that the catch was 

 utilised. With the exception of a small quantity cured all the catch had 

 to be conveyed south by rail, and in accomplishing that task the resources 

 of the railway conipany were severely taxed. To the railway company it 

 should have been a source of considerable profit. It is understood that 

 curers, fishermen, carters, and other workers all greatly benefited. 



For the working of the North Coast, southerly winds are the most 

 favourable, and with little variation southerly winds prevailed throughout 

 the greater part of the season — a fact which in great measure accounted 

 for the success attained. The bulk of the catch was handled by the local 

 curers. Strange to say, large quantities of fish were forwarded to Yar- 

 mouth to be converted into reds and bloaters. One notable feature was 

 the presence of a number of Yarmouth and Lowestoft crews who pursued 

 the fishing along with the local fieet. 



All the fish caught on the North Coast were not landed in the district, 

 as many heavy takes were conveyed by steam drifters to Stornoway, and 

 various East Coast ports of Scotland and England. 



The winter herring fishing was followed by cod-net fishing, but only 

 5 district crews engaged in it, owing to the success which attended the 

 herring fishing. For several weeks a number of Banffshire crews also 

 landed their takes at Wick. There was a scarcity of fish upon the grounds 

 within easy reach of Wick, and at the same time the fish caught were not 

 of great weight or of superior quality. The total catch was only 60 per 

 cent, of that of 1913. Higher prices- compensated for the deficiency to 

 some extent, as the average price per cwt. was lis. 5d., as against 8s. lid. 

 in the previous year. 



Varied and disappointing experiences were met with by all who were 

 connected with the summer herring fishing, and to most it was a season of 

 adversities. It commenced on the 14th May, and continued up to the 

 5th September, During that period, however, the fleet varied consider- 

 ably in number. For a great part of the season very partial results were 

 obtained. 



Fish were not met with in great abundance on the nearer grounds during 

 the first nine or ten VN^eeks of the season. Nevertheless, up to the first week 

 of July, some of the steamers had very fair success, as heavy takes were 

 secured on the distant grounds situated about sixty to eighty miles east, 

 although to accomplish that long distance heavy coal bills were incurred. 

 For several weeks in July light irregular fishings were landed. During 

 most of the season light baffling winds and calms prevailed, so that sail 

 boats had few opportunities of reaching the offing, and to them in general 

 the venture was a disappointing one. The distant grounds were more than 

 even the motor boats could comfortably overtake. 



Matters were commencing to improve about the end of July, but the 

 hopes of the trade were then blasted by the outbreak of war early in 



