of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



55 



motor power during the year, and it is expected that several of the larger 

 boats will shortly be similarly equipped. 



There was a considerable increase in the output of mussels, particularly 

 from the Tarlogie beds, and during the year a number of boat loads were 

 taken to adjoining districts. 



Fortunately there was no life lost during the year in connection with 

 fishing, and the damage to boats and loss of fishing gear were not 

 excessive. 



William Sinclair, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Lossiemouth, \Uh January 1919. 



Helmsdale District. 



During the year 1918 the number of motor boats belonging to owners 

 in Helmsdale district was increased by 10, bringing the total for the 

 district up to 25 vessels valued at £6950, as compared with 4 vessels 

 valued at £1398 in the year 1914. The additional motor boats were made 

 up of 1 large herring boat, 8 line boats of 22 to 30 feet keel, and 1 boat 

 under 18 feet of keel. Six were purchased by the fishermen from owners 

 in other districts, and 4 engines were installed in locally owned boats. 

 The returns for the year 1918 show a falling off in the number of sail 

 boats, due principally to the fishermen having sold, or installed motors 

 in them. 



There were employed in the fisheries of Helmsdale district in the 

 year 1918, 25 motor and 35 sail line boats, manned by 195 fishermen 

 and boys. Haddock, or small line fishing, was the principal branch of 

 the fisheries engaged in, and this species accounted for 72 per cent, 

 of the total quantity of fish landed within the district. Exclusive of 

 shell-fish, the total quantity of fish landed was 28,140 cwts. and the total 

 value £68,999 — an increase as compared with the returns for 1917 of 8681 

 cwts. in the quantity and £35,192 in the value. 



These results give high average earnings to the fishermen employed, 

 but it must be remembered that when engaged at the haddock fishing 

 the fisherman has to be assisted by one or two persons (in accordance 

 with the number of lines he is using) who are employed ashore gathering 

 bait and baiting and preparing the lines for the following day's fishing. 

 This assistance is usually given by the fisherman's wife and daughters, 

 but if he had to employ others to carry out this necessary part of the 

 business his earnings would be greatly reduced. 



Owing to the geographical situation of the district of Helmsdale, 

 which lies well inside the line of traffic between Scapa Flow and the 

 Naval Base at Cromarty, it was possible while the war was in progress to 

 permit of fishing being carried on within a wide area off the coasts of this 

 district. The permits held by the fishermen authorised them to fish 

 within 8 miles off the coast from Dunbeath to Tarbet Ness. With the aid 

 of motor boats, they were able to fish that area more thoroughly and with 

 greater regularity than could have been possible with sail boats. The 

 landings from motor boats accounted for 68 per cent, of the total quantity 

 of fish landed, and the great success which attended the prosecution of the 

 haddock fishing in the year 1918 was due, not only to the high prices 

 received for the fish, but also to the enterprise and energy of the crews 

 which manned these vessels. 



Of the district fishermen, those belonging to Helmsdale possessed 



