of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



84 



The large majority of the fishermen were employed at herring fishing 

 at the various large centres with fair results, although the heavy working 

 expenses and the high cost of fishing gear materially afiected earnings. 



The Means of Capture Keturns show several noteworthy changes 

 during the year. Eleven steam drifters were sold to other districts, 

 while there was an increase of 27 in the number of motor-boats, chiefly 

 of -the largest size, and a corresponding decrease in the number of large 

 sailing boats. Not many sailing boats fit for the installation of motor- 

 power are now left in the district. 



Cod -net fishing was prosecuted during the spring months by a con- 

 siderably increased fleet as compared with the previous season, but 

 stormy weather frequently hindered operations, and the catches secured 

 were seldom large. Good prices prevailed ranging from 4s. to 16s. per 

 fish, and the general range of earnings was from £500 to £1300 per crew. 

 The quantity landed was 3332 cwts. in excess of the landings during 

 the previous season, while the value was £562 less. The whole of the 

 catch was despatched in a fresh state, chiefly to Glasgow, London, and 

 the Midland towns. 



During the summer season herring fishing was prosecuted by the 

 district crews chiefly from Wick and Fraserburgh where, during July 

 and August, fair results were obtained, the gross earnings by steam, 

 motor, and sail vessels averaging £1200, £700, and £400 respectively. 

 The landing of herrings in the district during this period was practically 

 confined to boats arriving home at the week ends, and the catch only 

 anounted to 1750 crans against 840 crans for the previous season. The 

 bulk of the catch was cured gutted, the general range of prices being 

 from 17s. to 40s. per cran. 



At the close of the summer fishing practically all the steam drifters 

 and large motor boats available proceeded to the English fishing where 

 considerably more remunerative prices for fresh herrings were obtained, 

 earnings by steam drifters ranging from £800 to £2000, and by motor 

 boats from '£500 to £1100. A distinctive feature of the English season 

 was the fixing of a minimum price of 45s. per cran to be paid to the 

 fishermen in connection with the Government scheme for the purchase 

 of cured herrings. 



At Inverness, the small herring and sprat fishing was prosecuted 

 during the first three and last four months of the year. Exceptional 

 results were obtained in January when the maximum control price of 

 £6, 6s. per cran was frequently paid for herrings. Thereafter the fishing 

 fell ofi, and the fleet gradually dispersed. Operations were resumed 

 in September, the number of boats employed ultimately amounting to 

 63. Both herrings and sprats were plentiful in the Inverness Firth, and 

 during the progress of the English fishing prices fell as low as 8s. per 

 cran. The fishermen then arranged to restrict catches to a maximum 

 of nine crans per boat daily, but even with the restricted landings prices 

 were frequently under 20s. per cran, although as high as 53s. was paid 

 before the close of the year. 



Practically all the herrings landed were despatched in a fresh state, 

 chiefly to the southern markets, but the great bulk of the sprats, amounting 

 to 9050 barrels, was cured with a preparation of salt, sugar, and spice 

 for exportation to Sweden. Compared with the previous year the total 

 landings at Inverness showed an increase of 17,744 cwts., but a decrease 

 in value of £12,969. 



Line fishing was not so vigorously prosecuted as during the previous 

 year, and the quantity and value of haddocks landed show a decrease 

 of 5512 cwts. and £39,495 respectively. Considerable difficulty was 

 frequently experienced during the early part of the year in securing 



