Fish a ij Hoard for Scotland. 
xlvii 
regarding absent fishermen, or bringing intelligence of their safety. 
Upon another occasion, information was telegraphed to Stornaway 
that three small fishing boats belonging to Ness had been caught in a 
gale and were missing. With commendable promptitude, a steamer 
was immediately dispatched from Stornowoy in search of these boats, 
and in a short time they were found at sea, and safely towed into 
Ness harbour, — thus, in all probability, averting loss of life and 
property. Through the medium of the telegraphic wire, meteor- 
ological storm warnings are regularly transmitted to the Butt of 
Lewis, and from thence, by means of the signal system, 'fishermen 
and mariners are forewarned when danger is approaching — an in- 
estimable benefit on that exposed and stormy coast By means of 
the wire between Portnaguran and Stornoway, arrangements have 
been in operation whereby curers and others get early information as 
to the position of the fishing boats; and during the calms which pre- 
vailed while the herring fishing of last season was goiug on, despatch 
steamers were sent to becalmed boats, and towed them into harbour. 
Thus fishing operations were facilitated, and many valuable cargoes 
of herrings were landed in a fresh state, which otherwise would 
have been worthless. 
In the Island of Barra the telegraph has been in operation island of 
several years. It has afforded valuable aid in the promotion of all Barra - 
departments of the fishing industry, and is now looked upon as an 
indispensable adjunct towards promoting the success and well- 
being of that island. 
In the Shetland Islands, the officer reports that the telegraph Shetland 
extension is of great and increasing benefit to the fishing trade ; Islands - 
aud he gives many instances where heavy takes of herrings having 
been landed in some islauds, and the news communicated by tele- 
gram to the fishermen in other islands where fish were not being 
fouud, they at once proceeded to the former places, and met 
with gratifying success. On the 18th, 19th, and 20th of June, a 
very heavy fishing of herrings was landed at Walls, the curing of 
which exhausted the whole stock of salt and barrels, and, but for 
the telegraph enabling curers to get a new supply at once from 
other stations, a great loss would have been sustained. It appears 
also that at Hillswick, North Koe and Ollaberry, the haddock fishing 
has been more extensively prosecuted than formerly, and that the 
number of decked boats engaged therein has increased, and is likely 
still further to do so. 
In the Orkney Islands, the officer reports that whenever a shoal Orkney 
of herrings is discovered at any point in the district, the fact is Islands - 
immediately communicated to the different stations ; and that 
fishermen there frequently proceed to the place where the herrings 
have been found. One day last year, when large takes of herrings 
were landed at Stronsay, for the curing of which there were not 
enough of barrels nor a sufficient number of coopers, gutters, and 
packers, what was wanted was got from Wick on the following 
morning, whereas, had there been no telegraph, this could not have 
been done. Curers and their agents consider the telegraph of tjje 
greatest importance, being enabled thereby to transmit urgent com- 
munications to their correspondents during the herring fishing 
season. 
