58 



Appendices to Fortieth Annual Report 



The work of deepening the entrance channel and approaches to the 

 harbour, to provide a depth of 12 feet at low water of ordinary spring 

 tides, which was commenced in October of the previous year, has been 

 practically completed. The reef of rock in the fairway of the channel 

 was disintegrated by means of a Lobnitz patent rockbreaker and 

 removed by dredging. The quantity of material dredged and deposited 

 at sea this year amounted to 7828 cubic yards, of which 6549 cubic 

 yards was broken rock and 1279 cubic yards consisted of sand and 

 gravel. This material was removed by the dredger " Dragon " belong- 

 ing to the Board, the dredging operations suffering prolonged delays 

 through stormy weather. In addition to the material dredged, 409 cubic 

 yards of rock lying close to the pier was removed by the aid of divers 

 with drills and explosives. 



As the expenditure on works has largely exceeded the estimates, the 

 Town Council applied to the Treasury for further financial assistance, 

 and the Treasury have agreed to advance a sum of £56,500 by way of 

 loan from the Development Fund. 



No payments have been made towards the cost of the scheme from 

 the Development Funcl this year. 



Lossiemouth Harbour. 



No progress has been made during the year on the improvement 

 scheme, which is to provide wintering accommodation for fishing vessels 

 in the estuary of the River Lossie. 



The scheme, with the exception of the dredging of the harbour 

 basin, is practically completed, and negotiations for the dredging work 

 have been in progress for some time, but the matter is not yet settled. 



Nairn Harbour. 



This improvement scheme has remained in abeyance during the 

 year. The Town Council submitted a scheme of harbour improvement 

 works estimated to cost £147,000. On account of the state of the 

 national finances, negotiations are proceeding with a view to the con- 

 sideration of the more urgent portions of the scheme. 



Wick Harbour. 



Progress has been made with the reconstruction of the North River 

 Pier, the debris of the overturned walls being removed and a new 

 concrete wall being erected. The work has been seriously delayed on 

 account of the extremely exposed nature of the site and the frequent 

 occurrence of heavy gales. On several occasions the temporary works 

 have been washed away. 



The application by the Trustees for further financial assistance is 

 still under consideration. 



Payments amounting to £6013, 14s. 2d. by way of loan have been 

 made to the Trustees from the Development Fund during the year. 



Bucket Dredger. 



The bucket dredger "Dragon" belonging to the Board completed 

 the dredging at Buckie Harbour in the early part of the year, and 

 removed 1279 cubic yards of sand and gravel and 6549 cubic yards of 

 broken rock and boulders. 



The Macduff Town Council applied for the services of the dredger, 

 and the vessel started work on 9th May at Macduff Harbour. The 



