206 



Appendices to Thirty-fi^rst Annual Report 



arrivals was 2.6 cwts., against 2.5 cwts. for 7003 arrivals in 1911. On 

 several occasions during the closing months of the year individual crews 

 had takes of from 6 to 8 cwts. of large and medium haddocks at a shot. 

 Similar results were obtained in the corresponding period of 1911, but 

 then the greater part consisted of the medium and small varieties. On 

 the whole, the earnings derived from codling and haddock fishing were 

 considered satisfactory. A portion of the catch was retailed by 

 hawkers in the district between Inverness and the coast, but consign- 

 ments were sent from time to time to Aberdeen and Glasgow. The 

 presence of buyers at Cromarty obviated to a large extent the necessity 

 for the fishermen hawking their fish, a practice certainly to be 

 deprecated on account of the waste of both time and energy involved. 

 The bait used was mussels, " buckles," and pieces of herring. The 

 last-mentioned at certain seasons proved the most effective. Supplies of 

 herring got from Kessock, Inverness, were salted and used as occasion 

 required. Mussels were procured gratis from the adjacent beds. 

 Catches of flat fish were very small, and seldom exceeded 1 cwt. 



The gathering of whelks is the most important of the edible shell-fish 

 fishings, but, considering the amount of labour expended, the return is 

 small. This work is confined to the spring months. The capture of 

 crabs and lobsters is restricted to one small area, and does not add much 

 to the revenue. 



Four men from the village of Hilton lost their lives through the 

 foundering of their boat in the Inverness Firth. The weather was 

 squally at the time, and the boat was deeply laden with mussels. 



The six fishery barometers are in good order, and continue to serve 

 the purpose for which they were intended. 



Fishery Office, Alex. E. M'Kenzie, 



Cromarty, ^th January 1913. Fishery Officer. 



Helmsdale District. 



The fisheries carried on locally by the fishermen of Helmsdale district 

 were attended during the year 1912 with varying success. 



Haddocks, codlings, and plaice were fairly plentiful on the fishing 

 grounds, and consequently the small-line fishing produced better results 

 than have been obtained at that fishing for many years. 



On the other hand, the ripper " codling fishing, chiefly owing to 

 unfavourable weather in the spring, when it is usually most actively 

 prosecuted, yielded poor results as compared with those of the previous 

 year. 



In November and December the crews of ten small boats working 

 from Helmsdale were able to make fair and occasionally good earnings 

 at great-line fishing. Small herrings railed from Inverness were used 

 as bait. These could usually be got when required, and cost delivered 

 about 8s. per |-cwt. box. 



No large boats belonging to the district were employed at cod-net 

 fishing, but in March and April twelve Golspie crews combined that 

 fishing with small-line fishing, with very satisfactory results. 



Crab and lobster fishing received little attention. The total value 

 of these shell-fish landed amounted to £311, as against £352 in the year 

 1911. 



The mussel-beds at Little Ferry were more productive in 1912 than 

 they have been since 1903. Yet in 1912 the total output amounted to 

 only 2000 cwts., which is very much below what these beds, presenting 

 as they do ideal conditions for the cultivation of mussels, ought to 



