of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 



181 



In Wick district the catch for the summer months was the highest 

 on record by 5000 crans. Contrasted with the preceding year, there 

 was an increase of 11,000 crans. To fishermen, the average price was 

 26s. 3d. per cran, or almost 5s. per cran of an increase on the season's 

 catch of 170,000 crans. The catching and curing power was stronger 

 than hitherto. Several of the largest fish-curing firms on the Aberdeen- 

 shire coast have within the past few years extended their business to 

 Wick, and during the year 1912 cured extensively. For this there are 

 several reasons, the most important being the generally superior quality 

 obtained, and the proximity of the port to the most reliable fishing 

 grounds in Northern waters. From Peterhead southwards to the 

 Northumberland coast the fishing is less reliable, and the quality more 

 variable. 



As in the more northerly districts, the best results were obtained 

 during June and July. From the beginning of August the catch was 

 comparatively light, and by the middle of the month the fishing was 

 practically over. As regards the composition of the fleet, there was 

 a greater proportion of sail craft than elsewhere. These generally 

 varied in number from 190 to 230, steam from 140 to 160, and motor 

 from 4 to 6. The district craft consisted of about 60 sail, 14 steam, and 2 

 motor vessels. The other* belonged to various places on the Scottish 

 and English coasts. The earnings of the sail boats fishing steadily 

 from the port were exceptionally high, ranging from £400 to .£800, 

 while steamers earned from £900 to £1000 and upwards, and motor 

 boats from £700 to £900. In the quantity and value of white fish 

 recorded there was a substantial increase, which is accounted for by the 

 installation of a number of motors in small boats engaged in small and 

 hand line fishing, chiefly for cod fish. 



In the Moray Firth districts of Lybster, Helmsdale, and Cromarty 

 practically nothing was done at herring fishing. A number of small- 

 sized boats belonging to the districts of Findhorn, Buckie, and Banff 

 fished irregularly in the Firth during the early summer months, and 

 occasionally secured fair takes of good herrings, but the bulk of the 

 catch of some 23,000 crans was landed by district craft returning for 

 the week-end. In the Inverness and Beauly Firths the sprat fishing 

 was a failure. Fair quantities of small-sized herrings were caught 

 during the first quarter of the year, but in the last quarter, when the 

 best results are usually obtained, the fishing was a comparative failure. 



Throughout the year small-line fishing was engaged in intermittently 

 from the numerous places in the Moray Firth. Considering the small 

 number of men employed, and the irregular manner in which the 

 fishing was prosecuted, the results may be considered as fairly satis- 

 factory. In general, the takes of the small boats, with 2 to 4 of a 

 crew, ranged from 2 to 6 boxes. Several large sail boats, with a wider 

 range of operations, frequently landed takes of from 30 to 40 boxes, 

 chiefly haddocks, for which there was a good demand. 



The improved method of fishing for cod with nets was again engaged 

 in during the early months of the year with good success, chiefly from 

 Lossiemouth and Buckie. For the two districts a total of 45,670 cwts., 

 valued at £17,851, was landed. A portion of the catch was cured for 

 exportation, but the bulk was despatched to the inland markets in a 

 fresh condition. 



Wm. Jeffrey, 

 Assistant Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



Fishery Office, 

 Inverness, Uh January 1913, 



