of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



75 



tions were commenced by a few steam drifters about the middle of 

 October, and by the end of November 45 steam and 5 large motor 

 vesels were equipped. To begin with results were good, but owing to 

 the oversupply of the southern markets with Dutch and Danish plaice 

 towards the end of November, operations proved unprofitable, and 

 only 20 to 30 crews continued fishing from Lossiemouth. As this 

 method of fishing requires a comparatively calm sea and a smooth 

 bottom, operations were prosecuted in the more sheltered waters as 

 closely as possible to the exclusive fishery limits. Two trips extending 

 to about two days each were usually made weekly if weather permitted, 

 and the average catch amounted to 10J cwts. valued at £30, 10s. 

 for steam, and 5*2 cwts. valued at <£15 for motor vessels. 



A few of the medium sized motor boats were equipped with flounder 

 seine nets, but results were disappointing, and the crews reverted to 

 line fishing. 



Small-line fishing was more extensively prosecuted than during the 

 previous year, particularly during the period of the coal strike, when 

 from 70 to 90 boats, practically all equipped with motors, were employed. 



Cod net fishing was prosecuted from the end of January to the end 

 of March with rather poor results. The boats engaged numbered 18 

 steam and 17 motor, and their gross earnings ranged from £150 to 

 £400. The whole of the catch was despatched in a fresh condition to 

 the southern markets, but these were frequently heavily supplied 

 and prices suffered accordingly. Considerable damage was caused by 

 foreign trawlers to anchored nets left unattended. 



Although small herrings and sprats were fairly plentiful in the 

 Inverness and Beauly Firths during the last three months of the year, 

 operations were very irregularly prosecuted, owing to the poor demand 

 and unremunerative prices prevailing. 



Owing to the poor prospects for herring fishing, six steam drifters 

 were equipped early in the year for trawling ; these landed their catches 

 at Aberdeen, except towards the close of the year, when a number of 

 landings were made at the home port. Only two of the six vessels had 

 fair results. Three steam vessels, engaged in great-line fishing during 

 the summer months, failed to clear expenses. Three steam drifters 

 and a motor boat were converted to cargo boats during the year. 



Cromarty. — The number of fishermen has decreased considerably, 

 as the young people are not taking up fishing as a means of livelihood, 

 preferring other occupations. Haddocks taken by small-lines with 

 mussel bait, and codling taken by small lines with " buckie " bait, or by 

 " ripper," constitute the bulk of the District catch. Whitings were much 

 more abundant than usual, but prices were only about half those received 

 for haddocks. Cod-net fishing was practically a failure. There was an 

 increase in the landings of flat-fish, chiefly plaice, all taken by lines 

 with lugworm bait. 



The sprat fishing prosecuted in the Beauly and Inverness Firths by 

 Avoch crews towards the close of the year yielded good rusults as to 

 quantity, but poor returns financially ; indeed some of the catches 

 proved unsaleable. At the beginning of the season a foreign vessel 

 bought a fair quantity at 35s. to 40s. per cran, but after her departure 

 sales fell off owing, it was said, to the excessive railway rates to the 

 southern markets. 



Smoking of haddocks and codlings was engaged in to a very limited 

 extent, and the product was disposed of locally at remunerative 

 prices. 



About 120 fishermen, chiafly from Avoch, were absent as hired hands 



