of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



209 



The loss of and damage to fishing material in Scottish waters was moderate, 

 but on the English and Irish coasts it is estimated that the loss sustained 

 amounted to £70 per boat, or a total of £15,290. Two steam drifters were 

 run into and sunk, one in Wick Bay and the other in Yarmouth River. 

 Fortunately, they were both floated again and repaired. Two men lost their 

 lives during the year through falling overboard. 



Table showing, for the past five years, the Increase in the number of Steam 

 Drifters to the District, their Tonnage and Value, Value of Fishing Gear, 

 Area of Netting, and Length of Bush and Buoy Ropes. 



Year. 



Boats. 



Tons. 



Value. 



Fishing- 

 Gear. 



Total 

 Value. 



Area of 

 Nets. 



Bush and 

 Buoy Ropes. 





No. 





£ 



£ 



£ 



Sq. Yards. 



Yards. 



1907 



168 



3760 



423,550 



61,591 



485,141 



14,112,000 



665,280 



1908 



208 



5033 



520,000 



75,832 



595,832 



17,472,000 



823,680 



1909 



219 



5372 



547,500 



82,086 



629,586 



19,053,000 



867,240 



1910 



236 



5950 



590,000 



88,524 



678,524 



21,002,400 



934,560 



1911 



247 



6332 



617,500 



92,134 



709,634 



21,657,000 



978,120 



Table showing, for the past five years, the Decrease in Sail Boats, their 

 Tonnage and Value, Value of Fishing Gear, Area of Nets, and Length 

 of Bush and Buoy Ropes. 



Year. 



Boats. 



Tons. 



Value. 



Fishing 

 Gear. 



Total 

 Value. 



Area of 

 Nets. 



Bush and 

 Buoy Ropes. 





No. 





£ 



£ 



£ 



Sq. Yards 



Yards. 



1907 



542 



16,179 



153,087 



84,720 



237,807 



19,248,000 



1,299,240 



1908 



498 



15,210 



140,426 



77,909 



218,335 



17,664,000 



1,192,320 



1909 



443 



13,308 



120,185 



68,799 



188,984 



15,456,000 



1,043,280 



1910 



439 



13,152 



119,751 



67,028 



186,779 



15,574,200 



1,014,120 



1911 



431 



12,510 



113,048 



65,621 



178,669 



16,022,400 



981,720 



Fishery Office, James Stewart, 



Buckie, 8th January 1912. Fishery Officer. 



Findhorn District. 



Compared with the previous year the quantity and value of white fish 

 landed in the district during the year under review exhibits a decrease of 

 13,623 cwts. and £6730 respectively. The decrease was wholly due to the 

 failure of the cod-net fishing, which proved so successful during the 

 previous year. Apart from cod, however, practically all kinds of fish 

 landed show an increase — which, in the case of haddocks, is a substantial 

 one — at all the stations in the district. 



The principal feature in connection with the means of capture is the con- 

 tinued rapid displacement of the sail boat by the steam drifter. During the 

 year 22 new vessels of the latter type, each costing from £2600 to £3300, 

 were added to the fleet, but owing to two being lost and one sold, the nett 

 increase in this class of vessel was 19. A few sail boats were sold to other 

 districts, while a considerable number were struck off the register as useless. 

 Motor propulsion does not appear to gain in favour, as no addition was made 

 to the number of motor boats belonging to the district. 



As usual, the large majority of the fishermen prosecuted herring fishing at 

 the principal stations around the coast, but in the aggregate the earnings 

 were moderate. In the early part of the year 60 steam drifters took part in 



