Ixxii 



Fourth Annual Repori of the 



Findochty. 



Total 



expenditure, 

 Ness. 



Total expendi- 

 ture 



Desirability of 

 Fisliermeu 

 av ranging to 

 keep Harbour 

 in repair. 



Benefits from 

 Harbour. 



Crovie. 



Total expendi- 

 ture. 



St Monance. 



Total expendi- 

 ture. 



Above five 



Harbour 



Works. 



Total expendi- 

 ture. 



Stonehaven 

 Ha rbonr. 



Negotiations 

 for its improve- 

 ment. 



The Findochty Harbour Works embraced the erection of a break- 

 water, the construction of an addibional breakwater on the eastern 

 side of the creek, and the erection of a breast wall at its root. 

 Towards the expense of these works, which were completed in 1884, 

 the fishermen of Findochty contributed £3000, while in carrying 

 them out the old Board expended £1913, 7s. 9d., and the new Board 

 £9418, Is., making a total expenditure of £11,331, 8s. 9d. 



Of the three works undertaken by the present Board, the erection 

 of a much -needed harbour at the Port of Ness was the most import- 

 ant. This harbour, which was completed early in 1885, cost £5809, 

 2s. 2d., of which the trustees of the late Sir James Matheson 

 generously contributed £1500. 



Seeing that the harbour at this place was erected for the benefit 

 of the fishermen of Ness, it is to be hoped that they will make 

 arrangements for clearing the channel of sand should it at any time 

 show a tendency to become silted up, as well as to keep the works 

 in an efficient state of repair. 



It is satisfactory to know that smacks are now plying regularly 

 between Stornoway and Ness, and that the Ness fishermen are now 

 getting a market for their fish not previously available. This 

 is especially the case in regard to halibut, which was used only for 

 bait previous to the erection of the new harbour. 



At Crovie the Board erected a landing slip for the boats fishing 

 from that creek. The slip was completed in September last, and 

 cost £1225, Os. 6d., the Crovie fishermen contributing £300. 



The works undertaken by the Board at St Monance comprised 

 the additional excavation of rock in the basins of the east and west 

 harbours, and the widening of the entrance to these harbours. 

 Towards the expense of the works, which amounted to £1839, 

 18s. Id., the resident fishermen contributed £500. 



On the above five harbour works the Board have thus expended 

 £18,713, 5s., and if to this be added the amount expended by the 

 old Board on the harbours of Rosehearty and Findochty, viz., 

 £3573, 15s. Id., it will be seen that the gross expenditure on the 

 harbours which the present Board have assisted in constructing or 

 improving, has amounted to £22,287, Os. Id., towards which £5800 

 has been contributed by the different localities. 



The Board are at present in communication with the trustees of 

 the Stonehaven harbour with the view of assisting in the im- 

 provement of that harbour, and as the adoption of either of two 

 schemes which have been proposed would involve the expenditure 

 of a considerable amount of money, the Board have, in view of the 

 limited funds placed at their disposal, delayed stating what assist- 

 ance they would give for the improvement of any other harbours 

 until the negotiations regarding Stonehaven had advanced to such 

 a stage as to enable them to know what funds would be available 

 for other works. 



As will be seen from the following list, the number of harbour 

 works which the Board have been enabled to undertake, bears a 

 very small proportion to the number of applications made to them 

 for assistance : — 



