of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



217 



Unfortunately two fishermen belonging to the district were lost through 

 falling overboard when at sea. 



The eleven fishery barometers that are provided for a number of the 

 creeks on the Caithness coast are in good order and well attended to. 



James Kitchie, 



Fishery Office, Fishery Officer. 



Wick, 5th January 1912. 



Orkney District. 



The most interesting feature in connection with the fisheries of the Orkney 

 district is the further development of Stronsay as a herring curing centre. 

 The returns of white fish landed show an increase on those of the preceding 

 year — which was a record one — to the extent of 78,371 cwts. in the quantity 

 and £47,027 in the value. Herrings are entirely responsible for this result. 

 The other branches of the industry, with the exception of shell-fish, were 

 prosecuted with average success, and the returns show little variation from 

 the results of the preceding year. The returns of shell-fish exhibit a decrease 

 in value of £1 195 when compared with the figures of 1910, and are con- 

 siderably below the average of the past ten years. 



In the means of capture a decrease in the number of boats has again to be 

 recorded, while, on the other hand, it is satisfactory to note that the tonnage 

 shows a marked increase. This is accounted for by a number of old third- 

 class boats being broken up and replaced by large second-hand boats suitable 

 for prosecuting the herring fishing. Up to the present motor power has only 

 been installed in small boats employed in line and lobster fishing. 



The summer herring fishing, which commenced about the 23rd of May 

 and continued till the beginning of September, yielded satisfactory results. 

 The herrings were landed at Holm, Burray, Kirkwall, Sanday, and Stronsay, 

 the latter place being the chief centre. Of the total catch of 114,753 crans, 

 82,899 were landed by steam drifters, 31,118 by sail boats, and 736 by 

 motor boats. Although the return of herrings landed exceeds last year's 

 record by 75,826 cwts. in the quantity and £44,217 in the value, the average 

 catch per boat was less than in 1910 ; the increase in the catch is wholly due 

 to the fact that a larger fleet of boats operated from this district than during 

 the preceding year. 



The principal fishing grounds were from 30 to 50 miles south-east to east- 

 south-east, the best quality being taken from the more distant grounds. 

 During the first two or three weeks heavy takes of inferior quality were 

 landed, and, as curers were unwilling to cure these herrings, prices reached 

 such a low level as certainly not to cover the tear and wear of nets, while, 

 on several occasions, considerable quantities were thrown overboard. As the 

 season advanced the quality improved, and, as there was a better demand for 

 the cured article on the Continent, the price for green herrings gradually 

 advanced until, by the end of July, they reached 37s. 6d. per cran. The 

 average price per cran for the season was 23s. 10d., against 19s. lOd. for the 

 previous season. A feature of the season was the steadiness of the catoh. 

 Although the boats were seldom heavily fished, the fleet generally had a fair 

 regular fishing, and, as the loss of netting was practically nil, the results to 

 the fishermen were satisfactory. As the stranger fishermen were continually 

 moving about and landing their takes at the different ports, it is difficult to 

 estimate their earnings. Of the local fishermen the Stronsay crews were 

 most successful. Their earnings ranged from .£280 to £680 per crew, while 

 the average would be about £480. The Burray fishermen also did well, 

 averaging about £430 per crew. 



Owing to the non-completion of the new pier at Stronsay, and to a larger 



