of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



213 



fishing, it may here be mentioned that 10,985 cwts. of cod and codlings were 

 landed by the hand-line boats in the year 1911, being only 443 cwts. less 

 than the total quantity of white fish landed in the district in the year 1910. 

 In the spring 22 boats, manned by 3 men each, were employed at the hand- 

 lines, and while all shared in the prosperous fishing, the earnings of the crew 

 which was most successful amounted to £\ 50 for about three months' work. 



The crab and lobster fishing was not so actively followed as in previous 

 years, and the returns of these shell-fish for the year 1911 show a falling off. 

 The quantity of mussels and unclassified shell-fish (chiefly whelks and 

 cockles) gathered on the shores of the district was practically the same as in 

 the previous year. 



The coopers of the district were regularly employed, and the number of 

 barrels constructed exceeded by 8500 barrels and 1100 half-barrels the 

 number constructed in the preceding year. 



The fishery barometer is being carefully attended to, and is in good 

 condition. 



Alexander Wood, 

 Fishery Office, Fishery Officer. 



Helmsdale, 8th January 1912. 



Lybster District. 



This is a small district, which has suffered greatly from the changed 

 conditions in the fishing industry that have recently been brought about on 

 north-east coast of Scotland. 



Of late years the decline in the catching power, and the decrease in the 

 quantity of fish landed, have been the subject of comment. Although nothing 

 in the nature of a revival of the industry has taken place, the results for the 

 year under review were certainly an improvement upon those of the previous 

 year. That is chiefly attributable to the increased quantity of cod and 

 codlings caught. 



The large-sized boats owned in the district are fast decreasing in number, 

 and, owing to the decline of the herring fishing upon the inshore grounds, 

 are not being replaced, and will soon altogether disappear. 



Seeing that the fishing now offers little inducement to young men, there 

 are not many seeking to follow it as a means of earning a livelihood, and, 

 consequently, the number of fishermen is gradually becoming less. 



As was customary in previous years, trials were made at the winter herring 

 fishing, but there appeared to be an entire absence of herrings upon the 

 usual grounds. The efforts of the fishermen, therefore, resulted in com- 

 plete failure. 



From May to October the summer herring fishing was somewhat irregularly 

 engaged in by the few crews that made Lybster their port of landing, but 

 at no time during that period did they ever meet with any great measure of 

 success. The number of crews at work rarely exceeded a dozen, while the 

 craft operated with were of a small size. For the whole season the catch 

 was only 536 crans, which was slightly under that of the previous year. They 

 commanded prices ranging from 6s. to 28s. per cran, which yielded an 

 average price of 17s. 4d., compared with 13s. 8d. in 1910. 



The only encouraging feature in connection with the work of the district 

 was the considerable increase in the quantity of cod and codling caught, 

 which was about twice that of the catch of 1910. During most of the year 

 these fish were fairly abundant upon the inshore grounds stretching from 

 Bruan to Latheron. As a means of capture, the small ripper recently intro- 

 duced has been found to be very effective. In the summer months most fisn 

 were caught with the bare hooks, but again in the fall of the year it was 

 discovered that bait was necessary, This is a matter that required some 



