of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



77 



East Anglian fishing in vessels belonging to other districts, but most 

 returned home in debt. 



The recent innovation of seine-net fishing in the Moray Firth is not 

 approved by the district fishermen, who are unlikely to adopt this 

 method to any extent. 



Lybster. — From June to September fishermen devoted much time 

 to inshore herring fishing between Clyth Ness and Latheron Bay, but 

 without success, which was surprising, as in September a number of 

 heavy shots were caught by large boats not more than eight miles from 

 Clyth Ness. 



Only two crews, one at Latheronwheel and another at Lybster, 

 engaged in crab and lobster fishing in the spring. 



Owing to the failure of the herring fishing little was done at the two 

 fishcuring and kippering stations at Lybster, and the bulk of the herrings 

 cured was brought from Wick to Lybster in motor lorries, which added 

 considerably to the working expenses. The herrings cured gutted were 

 chiefly disposed of in the district, and the kippers were railed to the 

 south markets. In one of the curing yards, a small business was also 

 carried on in the smoking of haddocks for the Glasgow market and in 

 the curing of dried cod, which was sold locally at from 5s. to 7s. per 

 stone. 



In November Lybster harbour was gifted by the proprietor to the 

 people of the district, who have applied to the Development Com- 

 missioners for a grant to enable them to carry out urgent improvements 

 and repairs. 



Wick. — A large number of buyers congregated at Wick to carry on 

 freshing and kippering operations during the winter fishing season, when 

 a large fleet of boats operated on the northern fishing grounds. During 

 the first two weeks of the year many heavy shots were landed, and 

 prices of 60s. to 120s. and even 144s. per cran indicated a keen demand 

 in the southern markets. In the third week weather was stormy, and 

 catches light. The landings were heavy during the next fortnight, but 

 the markets had been over-supplied, and prices steadily fell until 5s. per 

 cran was reached at Wick, while at Scrabster there was no bidding. 

 Considerable loss of netting, caused by stormy weather, decided more 

 than half the fleet to return home. Some crews, however, continued 

 working till the end of March, receiving better prices owing to the 

 reduced supply. The bulk of the herrings was caught off the North 

 Coast to the west of Dunnet Head, but heavy catches were also secured 

 from 8 to 12 miles west of Cape Wrath, on the Sule Skerry grounds, and 

 off Auskerry and Copinsay, Orkney. The quality varied, especially on 

 the North Coast grounds, where two distinct shoals were present. When 

 herrings were cheap, small quantities were cured for export to French, 

 Dutch and German markets, but very poor prices were realised. 



The earnings of fishermen varied greatly, and while a few crews fared 

 well, to others the season was ruinous. The gross earnings of the local 

 steam drifters ranged from £1416 down to £231, and of the motor boats 

 from £675 to £156, while average working expenses amounted to £463 

 and £238 respectively. 



Only 5 local crews engaged in cod-net fishing, and these only for 

 5 weeks in February and March, and landings of net-caught cod at Wick 

 were effected chiefly by stranger boats. The cod were of good quality 

 and were despatched in a fresh state, chiefly to London and the Midlands. 



A small fleet began herring fishing on 23rd May on the Whiten Head 

 grounds, but two weeks' fishing yielded only a light catch. For the next 



