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Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



attention from the fishermen, as it was observed that mussel and limpet bait 

 had to be made use of alternately. Had the weather been of a less stormy- 

 character during the last two months of the year the landings might have 

 been much greater. 



In this district the use of cod-nets has not been persisted in. Early in 

 1910 a fleet of nets was acquired by one of the crews, but, as they 

 were unfortunate in not being able to turn them to a profitable account, the 

 nets were afterwards sold to fishermen residing in the Wick district. 



A considerable number of whole and half barrels were manufactured at 

 Lybster by the company that was formed in 1910 for the purpose, the chief 

 aim being to provide employment at home for the coopers belonging to the 

 village. During the past summer the demand for barrels was not equal to 

 that of the former year, and in consequence the stock on hand was not 

 nearly disposed of. The work, therefore, has been discontinued for a time, 

 and coopers have been compelled to seek employment in other districts, 

 while several have emigrated to the Australian Colonies. 



If the supply of cod, codling, and haddocks which has been met with 

 off the coast of this district for some time past should be maintained in the 

 future, fishermen, with the use of small boats, would be successful in making 

 a satisfactory living should they find a good market for their product. 



Small motor craft are found to be well adapted for the prosecution of the 

 line fishing. Some of the fishermen are very desirous of having that class 

 of boat, but as they are in poor circumstances they cannot procure them 

 without some assistance, and to negotiate that locally seems to be a rather 

 difficult matter. 



The work of the past year in connection with the fishing industry of the 

 district was conducted without any loss of life or serious accident. No loss 

 of or serious damage to fishing craft or fishing material was sustained. 



The fishery barometer placed at Lybster Harbour is in good order, and 

 continues to give satisfaction. 



Fishery Office, James Ritchie, 



Wick, 5th January 1912. Fishery Officer. 



Wick District. 



It is the successful prosecution of the herring fishing from the port of 

 Wick that enables this district to maintain its importance along with the 

 other leading centres. The quantity landed during the year under review 

 has only on one occasion been exceeded, that being in the year 1910, when a 

 record was established. In one respect, however, the year stands out 

 prominently in that the catch was more valuable than that of any former 

 season. To some extent the summer herring fishing was marred by the 

 early commencement that was made. Operations were begun on the 9th 

 May, when only immature fish were to be got. From that date on to the 

 3rd of June close upon 16,000 crans were landed, for which, on an average, 

 only about 6s. per cran was paid. At the same time, several thousand crans 

 for which no market could be found were returned to the sea. There is no 

 denying the fact that such proceedings can only result in disaster to the 

 trade. From the 10th June fish of fairly good quality were obtainable, and, 

 as there was a good demand, prices immediately advanced, and were well 

 maintained for the remainder of the season. For the whole of the season 

 the average price was 23s. 5d. per cran, with a range of from Is. to 38s. 

 On the whole, the quality of the fish caught, although very fair, was not 

 quite equal to that of some of the preceding years. That may be accounted 

 for in various ways. In the first place, extremely fine weather was 

 experienced throughout most of the season, which is not considered to be 



