of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



233 



APPENDIX M. 



COD-NET FISHING IN THE MORAY FIRTH. 



Although the method of fishing known as cod-net fishing has been in 

 vogue on the West Coast for almost a century, it has been practised on 

 the East Coast only during the last seven years, but it has already 

 assumed important proportions. The new development is centred in the 

 Moray Firth, and is carried on during the early spring months. Begun 

 there in 1906 by the fishermen of Findhorn district, for two years it 

 attracted little attention, but the remunerative results obtained at a time 

 when there is a general lull in herring fishing began to be more generally 

 realised, and in 1908 there was a great accession of activity, with the 

 result that the preceding year's catch was trebled. Since then all the 

 districts bordering on the Moray Firth have embarked upon the new 

 enterprise, and it may now be said to have become a recognised portion of 

 the year's routine. 



The following table shows the progress of cod-net fishing on the East 

 Coast (almost entirely in the Moray Firth) since its introduction there in 

 1906 :— 



Cwts. I Cwts. 

 1906 .. .. 3,990 1909 .. 40,676 



1907 . . . . 3,808 



1908 .. 11,296 



1910 .. .. 76,104 



1911 .. .. 36,938 



1912 .. 76,751 

 The season is of varied duration, a number of boats commencing early 



in February and fishing continuously up to the end of April, but, generally 

 speaking, it may be said to last for eight weeks from the middle of 

 February. At that time the cod congregate in the Firth in order to 

 spawn, and, in common with other round fishes, do not readily take bait 

 when in that condition. Consequently very few are taken by lines, and 

 the net is thus peculiarly suited for the capture of gravid cod. 



The principal fishing grounds lie from four to eight miles ofi* the coast 

 from Tarbet Ness north to Helmsdale, and the fishing is engaged in by 

 both large and small vessels. In Findhorn and Buckie districts, as might 

 be expected, the fleet is composed of steamers and 1st class sailing vessels. 

 In the remaining districts it is carried on by small vessels. The nets 

 used are of 18 ply yarn, 120 yards in length and 7 yards in depth, with a 

 9-inch mesh. As compared with the old type of cod-net, several improve- 

 ments have been introduced. The corks formerly used for keeping the 

 net in an upright position have been replaced by strong hollow glass balls, 

 about one pound in weight and five inches in diameter, which are covered 

 with canvas to prevent breakage and to enable ropes to be attached to 

 them. These balls retain their buoyancy for a much longer period than 

 corks, and are otherwise more serviceable. The stones formerly used for 

 weighting the bottom of the nets are replaced by small sandbags of about 

 six pounds in weight and from 14 to 16 inches in length. The large 

 sailing boats and steamers carry from 25 to 35 nets each, the number used 

 by smaller vessels varying according to the size of the craft, some of the 

 small 3rd class yawls employing only six. When mounted the net is 

 contracted to 60 yards in length, and the fish, it may be stated, are not 

 meshed by the gills, but are rather entangled in the loose folds of the net. 



The success of this fishing depends to a large extent on the weather 

 conditions. Some degree of stormy weather, which is inimical to line- 

 fishing, seems to be necessary to the success of cod-net fishing, as it 

 renders the water cloudy. In clear water it appears that the fish can see 

 and are able to avoid the nets. 



