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Appendices to Fortieth Annual Report 



at the various herring fishings for a considerable period of the year, and 

 while a few made fair earnings, most returned with little or nothing. 

 Formerly as many as 400 men used to be so engaged annually. Only 

 about 50 women, chiefly from Avoch, went to the gutting stations on 

 the East Coast, as against 240 in 1914. 



A boat, with her crew of 4 men, was lost in a squall near the entrance 

 to Cromarty Firth. 



Helmsdale. — On the whole the District fishermen have probably 

 been more fortunate than those elsewhere dependent almost solely 

 on herring fishing. Prior to the war the prosperity of the district 

 was largely dependent on that fishing, but the dislocation of the 

 herring industry by the war caused the district fishermen to devote their 

 attention to the local fisheries, and they have therefore gradually 

 increased the efficiency of their small-line vessels, chiefly by the 

 installation of motor engines. 



The number of sail boats is gradually getting less. Several large 

 sailing vessels still owned in the district were laid up all year, and are 

 not likely ever to be employed at herring fishing again. 



Except at Embo small-line fishing is almost wholly prosecuted in 

 motor boats. Small sailing craft at the other creeks are mainly used 

 for hand- line fishing. The steam drifters previously owned in the 

 district have all been sold. 



Lobster fishing, owing to the success attained in 1920, was prosecuted 

 by an increased number of boats, especially during April, May and 

 June, but catches were considerably smaller, perhaps because too many 

 boats were working in the limited areas. 



Haddock fishing, which contributed 60 per cent of the landings, was 

 carried on with great energy and perseverance, except in March and 

 April, when fish were scarce. Earnings are usually best at Helmsdale, 

 because the Helmsdale men work about four lines per man as compared 

 with two at the other creeks. The use of so many lines entails a con- 

 siderable amount of labour ashore, which is usually overtaken by the 

 fisherman's own family, but where labour has to be paid for, there is a 

 corresponding reduction in net earnings. In some instances fishermen 

 without home assistance were, owing to poor earnings, compelled to 

 devote their attention to hand-line fishing. 



Hand-line fishing, which is confined to Helmsdale and Dunbeath, 

 was engaged in throughout the year, but with practically no success 

 except in April, when the price of fish rose owing to the coal stoppage. 



Towards the end of January a commencement was made at the cod- 

 net fishing, but, chiefly because of the destruction of so many cod-nets 

 in 1920, only 22 boats participated, as compared with 34 in the previous 

 year. This fishing was continued into April, but the majority of the 

 boats ceased operations during the last week in March. Results were 

 even more unsatisfactory than in 1920, while the damage to cod-nets 

 was again considerable, and it is very improbable that those who were 

 unfortunate enough to lose their nets will replace them. The chief 

 centres of the fishing were Golspie and Helmsdale, but at each of the 

 other creeks, except Embo, a few boats took part. At Embo, however, 

 small-line fishing for plaice was engaged in successfully from January 

 until May. 



Occasional trials were made at the inshore herring fishing by small 

 motor boats working from Helmsdale and Dunbeath. One large 

 Dunbeath motor boat engaged in the summer herring fishing at Wick 

 with fair results, while two small motor boats took part in the West 

 Coast fishing, but without success. Several fishermen took part in the 



