of the Fishery Board jor Scotland. 



259 



were only partially fulfilled. Up to the end of that month, however, the 

 total catch amounted to 83,000 crans, or about double the quantity landed 

 in any previous year at such an early date. With the whole of August, 

 the principal month of the season in previous years, to go, it was fully 

 anticipated that this catch would be doubled. Such, however, was 

 not the case, as, owing to a continuous spell of calm and sultry weather, 

 the catch for the month of August was the poorest in the history of the 

 herring fishing at the port of Wick. The result was that the season 

 closed with a catch of 96,600 crans, or 10,000 crans short of the catch of 

 1905. The chief cause of this disappointing result was not the want of 

 herrings on the various grounds, but, as already stated, the exceedingly 

 calm weather which prevailed. The majority of the herrings, though 

 caught early, were of extremely fine quality, and commanded prices which 

 satisfied both fishermen and curers. The average price for June was 15s. 

 per cran, for July 20s., for August 29s., and for the season 19s. 6d., as 

 against 19s. in 1905. 



Never since Scrabster became a recognised fishing port has there been Early Herring- 

 such a failure of the herring fishing. Diligent search was made on the J^'™f at 

 usual grounds from 20 to 40 miles and as far distant as 90 miles in a 

 north and north-westerly direction, but without success. Consequently 

 the season closed abruptly three or four weeks before the usual time, 

 with the exceedingly small catch of 534 crans. 



The winter herring fishing began on the second week of January and con- Winter Her- 

 tinued. as usual, till about the end of March. On the average about 80 boats ri,1 & Fishin £- 

 took part in the venture. The results were slightly better than those of 

 the previous year, while the sums realised by the fishermen were con- 

 siderably greater. The grounds worked upon were off Orkney and to 

 the south of Wick. 



It was feared that the fate of the cod and ling fishing was sealed, as for Cod and Ling 

 several years back it might be said that as an industry it had practically Fishin S« 

 disappeared. So much has this been the case that fishermen had allowed 

 themselves almost to drift out of great-lines, with the result that, on a 

 revival of the fishing during the season of 1906, they had to fit them- 

 selves out anew with the necessary fishing gear. 



Haddocks have also been more plentiful, especially within the area of Haddock 

 the Moray Firth, and the quantity landed shows an increase over the Fishlug * 

 previous year. 



Exportations went on rapidly throughout the season, the trade, on the Exportation?, 

 whole, in Germany and Kussia having been good. As a reasonable 

 profit was obtained during the process of cure, curers w T ere selling almost 

 all on the spot. 



Thirteen steam drifters and eighteen sailing boats belonging to the English 

 district took part in the English herring fishing. The success which ]|33JJj* 

 attended the steam vessels exceeded by a long way even the success of 

 the previous year, their average earnings being £955. The sailing boats 

 did not, however, fare so well, their earnings only amounting, on an 

 average, to .£280. The weather conditions and the congestion of the 

 river at Yarmouth frequently prevented them from getting to sea. 



The number of barrels made appears to be yearly on the increase. Barrel- 

 Coopers are not able to cope with the requirements of the trade without making, 

 the aid af machinery, and to meet the demand machiuery has been intro- 

 duced by three firms in Wick. 



The crab and lobster fishing is carried on chiefly by the crofter fisher- j^^ter* 1 

 men scattered on the western shores of Caithness and Sutherlandshire. Fisheries. 

 This part of the coast is very dangerous and exposed to the full fury of 

 wind and wave. Yet over 5000 creels were spread along the coast from 

 Cape Wrath to Duncansbay, or one-third more than in the previous year 



