of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



105 



arrivals of motor boats in the district averaged 3*5 cwts. each and 

 realised an average price of 19s. 5£d. per ewt, and 62 arrivals of sail 

 boats had an average catch of 4 cwts. per arrival and realised on an 

 average 18s. 6|d. per cwt. All the fish, except a few consumed locally, 

 were consigned fresh to Glasgow, Inverness, Invergordon and London. 



Line fishing was prosecuted more or less from all the creeks in the 

 district, but the total quantity of line fish landed for the year was 919 

 cwts. less than the total for the previous year. Haddocks accounted for 

 about 60 per cent, of the total quantity landed and were of good quality, 

 mainly medium and large sized fish. During the summer months good 

 prices were obtained by the Cromarty and Saltburn fishermen, who sold 

 their catches to H.M. ships in Cromarty Firth. For the remainder of the 

 year prices per cwt. ranged from 30s. to 40s. according to the supply. 

 Catches varied from 1 to 3 cwts. per arrival, averaging about 1^ cwts. 

 As boats are small, operations were often hindered during the latter 

 months of the year by stormy weather. 



Good supplies of plaice were landed during February, March and 

 April. 



The principal fishing grounds for haddocks were from 1 to 4 miles off 

 the "Sutors," for cod off Tarbat Ness and in Cromarty Firth, and 

 for plaice in Dornoch Firth. The bait used was mussels and "buckies," 

 which were procured free of cost from the adjacent beds. 



Crabs and lobsters are not plentiful in this district, being found chiefly 

 in the northern section. 



Six boats of 25 feet keel were built at Avoch during 1920 for small 

 drift-net and line fishing, at an average cost of £260 each. Four of these 

 were fitted with motor engines at an extra cost of £240 each. 



One steam drifter was acquired by an Avoch crew and prosecuted 

 the herring fishing off the East Coast and at Lowestoft. At the latter 

 fishing the earnings of the crew amounted to about .£1500. 



Fortunately there was no los3 of life at sea, nor any damage to boats 

 and gear. 



Alex. Stephen, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Cromarty, 9th January 1921. 



Helmsdale District. 



Throughout the year no change of any importance took place in 

 connection with any of the branches of the fishing industry carried on 

 in this district. 



The fish landed, exclusive of shell-fish, amounted to 17,415 cwts. 

 valued at £22,602, showing decreases of 2666 cwts. and £11,171 re- 

 spectively as compared with the previous year. To a great extent the 

 failure of the cod-net fishing is accountable for the decrease in quantity, 

 while the great difference in value is chiefly owing to the higher prices 

 obtained for fish during 1919. The average price for fish, exclusive of 

 shell-fish, during 1920 was 26s. per cwt., while in 1919 and 1918 the 

 average prices were 33s. 7d. and 49s. respectively. Fish prices are no 

 doubt less here than would be the case if the neighbourhood were more 

 thickly populated. As it is, however, practically the whole of the 

 landings are despatched to the southern market?, and of course all ensu- 

 ing charges, such as railway freights, commission, etc., adversely affect 

 the price which the fishermen receive. In fact it sometimes happens, 

 principally during the summer months when the demand is slack, that 



