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Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



the Irish fishing, but owing to low prices the average earnings did not exceed 

 .£270 per vessel. At the Scottish summer fishings 114 steam drifters, 4 

 motor boats, and 108 sail boats were employed, the average earnings for 

 each class of vessel being estimated at .£900, £600, and <£350 respectively ; 

 112 steam drifters, 2 motor boats, and 10 sail boats took part in the English 

 fishings, their average earnings being .£700, .£350, and .£250 respectively. 



During June and part of July herrings appeared to be more plentiful on 

 the local grounds than for some years past, and a number of fair takes were 

 landed. Thereafter the landings were confined chiefly to steam drifters 

 returning home at the week-end. Although during May and part of June 

 prices were low, owing to the indifferent quality of the fish, high prices were 

 obtained during the latter part of the great summer herring fishing. The 

 season's catch amounted to 4427 crans, valued at .£3947, against 4560 crans, 

 valued at ,£3658, for the corresponding period of the previous year. 



From forty to fifty crews belonging to Avoch, Campbeltown, and Nairn 

 prosecuted the herring and sprat fishing from Inverness, chiefly during the 

 last three months of the year, but although satisfactory catches were obtained 

 the fish were m poor demand, and prices frequently ruled as low as 3s. to 5s. 

 per cran, with the result that, although the quantity landed exceeded the 

 returns for 1910 by 13,542 cwts., the value shows a decrease of .£1154. 

 Two-thirds of the catch was sent to Aberdeen for tinning purposes, while 

 1233 barrels were cured for Norway, the remainder being disposed of in the 

 Southern and local markets. 



Sixty-five crews fitted out for the cod-net fishing, which was prosecuted 

 during February, March, and April, but the results were very disappointing, 

 the total catch only amounting to 14,017 cwts., valued at £5820, as against 

 48,725 cwts., valued at £16,774, for the previous season. Operations were 

 prosecuted chiefly from Lossiemouth, although a few catches were also landed 

 at Hope man, Burghead, and Nairn. The whole catch was disposed of in a 

 fresh state. 



Haddock fishing was prosecuted with marked success throughout the year, 

 the returns showing the large increase of 8358 cwts. and £5273 upon the 

 previous year's figures. Prices were generally well maintained, the average 

 being 13s. per cwt., which was fully equal to that obtained during the 

 previous year. The quantity of flounder and plaice landed shows only a 

 very slight increase. The value of shell-fish shows an increase of £284, due 

 chiefly to an increased output in the quantity of mussels at Findhorn, 

 amounting to 4480 cwts., but the demand is still in excess of the supply. 



Boat-building was fairly brisk in the district. At Inverness seven steam 

 drifters were built, while at Lossiemouth the output was five steam drifters 

 and six second- and third-class sail boats. Eleven of the drifters built were 

 for use in the district, while one was built to the order of the Congested 

 Districts Board for Ireland. Two sail boats of 40 and 35 feet keel were 

 built for Barra. 



Although several orders for drifters for this year have already been placed, 

 local builders do not anticipate that the demand will equal that prevailing 

 last year. 



A fisherman belonging to Hopeman was unfortunately drowned, having 

 fallen overboard while the boat was returning from line-fishing. 



One steam drifter was burnt off the Irish coast through an explosion of 

 the gas plant ; another was wrecked off the Lewis coast, owing to a break- 

 down in the machinery ; while a line-fishing sail boat was totally wrecked at 

 the back of Lossiemouth Harbour. A heavy loss of gear was sustained at 

 the English fishing, the average per vessel being estimated at £70. 



The fishing barometers at Nairn and Burghead are in good order and care- 

 fully attended. 



Fishery Office, 

 Losstrmouth, 6th January 1912. 



William Sinclair, 



Fishery Officer, 



