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Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



fishing is also decreasing. This state of matters is accounted for by the fact 

 that comparatively few young men in the district are now taking to a sea- 

 faring life. 



Unlike most other districts, no development of the application of steam 

 power to fishing vessels occurred in the district during the year. In point 

 of fact, the number of steam craft belonging to the district has been stationary 

 for several years. 



Motor power for the propulsion of fishing craft was introduced into the 

 district during the year, one of the large sailing boats of the Zulu type being 

 equipped with a motor engine previous to the commencement of the summer 

 herring fishing. It has proved quite satisfactory, as the owners are quite 

 pleased with the manner in which it has worked. The boat was employed 

 at the summer herring fishing, and also on the English coast, when about 

 £1070 was earned. There is every prospect of one or two more of the Zulu 

 boats being fitted with motor engines. Four small boats that are used for 

 line fisliing have been fitted with small motor engines, and two of the number 

 have been in use for fully six months. They were found to be well adapted 

 for the work engaged in, and, being in the hands of capable and energetic 

 fishermen, they have so far proved a remunerative investment to the owners. 

 Good wages were also earned by the crews that manned them. 



When the year's catch of white and shell-fish for the whole of the district 

 is compared with that of the previous year, a slight decrease is seen. There 

 does not appear to be any prospect of either branch of the industry expand- 

 ing. On the inshore grounds, off some parts of the Caithness coast, cod and 

 codling were fairly abundant. Good takes were at times obtained, but over 

 all the supplies were not generally so satisfactory as in 1910. The success 

 of some crews was largely attributed to the adoption of the small ripper, 

 which proved a very effective bait. 



Cod-net fishing was pursued in the months of February, March, and April 

 by ten sail boats and three steamers belonging to Wick, and also by a 

 number of Banffshire crews. It appeared that there were not nearly such 

 large shoals of fish upon the grounds as in the previous season, and what 

 were formerly considered to be good hauls were seldom got. After the 

 experience of last year fishermen are not at all hopeful with regard to the 

 future of this fishing. 



From the district twelve steamers, one motor boat, and six sailing craft 

 proceeded to the English coast for the purpose of pursuing the herring 

 fishing. Although the season there was generally a remunerative one to 

 fishermen, the crews from this district did not have particularly high earnings. 

 Steamers had from .£400 to £750, the motor boat about £490, and sailers 

 from £130 to £390. 



Business was engaged in at the Norfolk herring fishing stations by the 

 same number of district curers as have gone there for several years past. 



Barrel-making was carried on in a pretty extensive way at Wick. Besides 

 the supplies provided for home use, considerable quantities were despatched 

 to stations on the West Coast, Orkney, Shetland, JSTorth-west of Ireland, and 

 the English stations. 



It is now about four years since the work of improving and extending 

 Wick Harbour was commenced, but the scheme on hand has not yet been 

 completed. By next summer, however, it is likely that the whole of the 

 extension will be so far carried out as to permit of its being used for the 

 accommodation of fishing craft. When the whole of the extension is finished 

 the facilities of the port will be considerably increased. Considering how 

 extensively the existing harbour space is utilised, an addition to it is greatly 

 needed. 



Owing to the favourable character of the weather that prevailed during the 

 summer months, no serious loss of or damage to fishing gear was experienced, 

 neither was there any extensive loss or damage sustained by fishing craft. 



