of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



11 



The decrease in the quantity of haddocks caught by line in the 

 Moray Firth is more noteworthy. In 1898 the amount landed was 

 81,098 cwts., while last year it was 68,075 cwts., or nearly 14,000 

 cwts. less. The average catch per " shot " also declined from T554 

 to 1*229 cwts., the lowest since the statistics began to be collected. 

 Since 1895 both the gross quantity landed and the average weight 

 taken per " shot " of the line have fallen in each successive year. 

 In 1895 the total was 178,370 cwts., and the average per " shot " 

 3-06 cwts. 



There was also a decrease last year in the quantity and average 

 catch of saithe or coal-fish landed. Unlike the cod or haddock, the 

 saithe had been gradually increasing from 1895. Throughout the 

 whole period of six years whitings have shown a gradual and 

 continuous decline. In 1894 the quantity amounted to 5,845 cwts., 

 and the average per <c shot " was 0 09 ; last year the quantity was 

 1323 cwts., and the average 0*02. Conger also slightly diminished, 

 while skate slightly increased, the average per " shot " remaining 

 the same. 



Among flat-fishes, on the other hand, an increase occurred as 

 compared with the previous year ; but the quantity caught by lines 

 in the Moray Firth is not very large. The total weight landed in 

 1898 was 4169 cwts., while 5833 cwts. were landed in 1899. The 

 quantities landed in each of the years, and the percentage of the 

 total catch are as follows : — 





1894 



1895 



1896 



1897 



1898 



1899 



Cwts 



5,736 



6,170 



4,127 



4,715 



4,169 



5,833 



Percentage of Total 

 Catch . 



2-6 



2-3 



1-6 



1-9 



2-5 



3-9 



Very few lemon soles were taken by lines, only six cwts. during 

 the year ; turbot increased from 13 cwts. in 1898 to 60 cwts. last 

 year, and halibut from 730 to 762 cwts. The increase in the group 

 comprised under the heading " flounder, plaice, and brill " was more 

 considerable, namely, from 3425 cwts. in 1898 to 5005 cwts. in 

 1899, the respective averages being 0*06 and 0*09, and the increase 

 took place almost entirely in the three districts of Helmsdale, 

 Cromarty, and Findhorn. 



The statistics dealing with the number of " shots " of the line- 

 fishing boats, or the number of visits made to the fishing grounds, 

 show that an increase occurred last year as compared with 1898. 

 The figures for the whole of the Moray Firth in each of the years 

 are as follows ; — 



