of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



211 



Cromarty District. 



As matters stand at present in this district, there can be little material 

 variation in the results recorded from year to year. The greater part of the 

 fishermen's earnings has of recent years been derived from drift-net fishing 

 at other parto of the coast, aud during the year 1911 this was again the 

 case. While at home the fishermen, except the Avoch men, were employed 

 almost exclusively at small-line fishing, but the proceeds from this occupation 

 represented only a little over one-third of their total income. 



Close on 400 men were absent at herring fishing for a considerable period 

 of the year. That number included the crews of 25 first-class boats 

 registered in the district, the remainder going as hired hands in boats 

 belonging to other districts. The majority commenced operations at Castle- 

 bay in April, proceeding thence to the Aberdeenshire coast in June, and 

 finishing on the English coast in December. 



Nineteen of the district crews averaged £125 at Castlebay, and twenty- 

 five averaged £280 at Fraserburgh and Orkney. 



Including the earnings of hired men, the total amount derived from the 

 different herring fishings exceeded £17,000. The earnings in the preceding 

 year exceeded that amount by close on £1000. This decrease is due chiefly 

 to the fact that the crews of five Avoch sail boats which went South to the 

 English herring fishing in 1910 remained at home in 1911, and to the 

 season on the Aberdeenshire coast proving less remunerative. 



The fisher girls had a profitable season at the larger herring curing 

 centres. Over 200 were employed in the capacity of gutters and packers, 

 and the majority moved about from May till November, commencing at 

 Shetland and finishing at Lowestoft and Yarmouth. 



In the preceding year three Avoch crews practised cod net fishing, but 

 the venture did not prove sufficiently remunerative to attract others to it. 

 Should this method of fishing turn out more productive during next spring 

 season an expansion may be looked for. 



A reduction in the number of first-class boats has to be recorded. Three 

 Avoch crews parted with good boats and manned steam drifters registered 

 in other districts. Other old boats which had become worn out were struck 

 off the list, and were not replaced by others. Sailing remains the only 

 means of propulsion. 



Between 40 and 50 Avoch crews had a fairly good season at sprat and 

 small herring fishing in the Inverness and Beauly Firths. This fishing 

 extended from the middle of September till the close of the year. Small 

 herrings especially were abundant, and sometimes the supply exceeded the 

 demand, with consequent low prices. The greater part of the catch was 

 landed at Inverness, where a number of bu3 r ers from Aberdeen and elsewhere 

 were assembled. The earnings per crew ranged from £25 to £75. 



Small-line fishing was prosecuted throughout the whole year, but the full 

 fleet of yawls was employed only during spring and winter. The average 

 catch for 7003 arrivals was 2*5 cwts., in comparison with 6437 arrivals and 

 2*2 cwts. in 1910. Haddocks were more plentiful than for the past few 

 years, but the catches consisted largely of the medium and small varieties. 

 Some few consignments were sent to Glasgow, but Inverness and Dingwall 

 were the chief markets for the supply of the surrounding districts. The 

 only process of curing was smoking, but only a small quantity was treated 

 in that way, the greater part being sold fresh. Mussels for bait were got 

 for the labour involved in the gathering. The spring plaice fishing yielded 

 a poor return. The catches off four lines, baited with lug-worm, as a rule 

 averaged about 1 cwt. and seldom exceeded lj cwts. 



The women and young folks at certain sections paid more attention to 

 whelk-gathering than in the preceding year. This work is performed in 

 0 



