14 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Repwt 
only station in the district where herrings were cured last year — the 
fishing commenced on 1 6th July and ended on 31st August. The most 
productive weeks of the season were those ended 27th July, 3rd, 10th, 
and 17th August. The principal fishing ground was in the vicinity and 
a few miles south-east of Tarbatness, and the average catch for the 40 
boats employed was 121 crans, against 83 crans in 1888, — the total catch 
for the season being 4854 crans, as compared with 2984 crans in 1888. 
The quality of the fish for curing purposes was very disappointing during 
the whole season, not much over one-seventh of the total catch being 
full fish, aud the remainder chiefly maties. The Portmahomack boats 
were almost all engaged at 12s. to 13s. per cran, and the total catch would 
average about 12s. per cran. There were about 400 craus landed at 
Cromarty during the season, but these were all used in a fresh state. 
The weather was very favourable for fishing. 
The winter herring fishing was prosecuted to a limited extent at Port- 
mahomack and Cromarty during the months of January, February, and 
March, and again in November and December, principally for the purpose 
of getting bait for long lines — the total catch only amounting to 372 
crans, valued at £191. 
Helmsdale District. 
From north side of Meikle Ferry to Dunbeath, both inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Helmsdale. 
The summer herring fishing of 1889 was prosecuted by 122 boats, of 
which 113 fished from Helmsdale and 9 from Dunbeath, — being an in- 
crease of 24 boats over the previous year. Ninety-three of these belonged 
to the district and 29 to adjacent districts, viz., Wick, Banff, and 
Inverness. The season opened very favourably on the 10th of July, but 
was not in full operation until the 22nd, the low prices offered keeping 
the fishermen from the fishing until the 18th July, when the Helmsdale 
boats were engaged to curers at prices ranging from lis. 6d. to 14s. per 
cran, for a complement of 200 crans, or for a period of seven weeks. 
Having regard to the prices paid before the 18th of July, which ranged 
from 2s. to 8s. per cran, and to those paid unengaged boats belonging to 
other districts, which varied from 5s. to 17s. 6d. per cran, the average 
price was 12s. per cran. The bulk of the season's catch was taken from 
2 to 5 miles offshore, the average for the first 3 days being, 18, 14, 
and 20 crans respectively. The fishing throughout was very regular and 
productive, there being no blanks until the 3rd of August, when the 
average for the district was 111 crans. The most successful week was 
that ended 3rd August. The largest single take was 93J crans, the 
highest gross catch 320 crans, and the lowest 40 crans. From the 3rd till 
the 16th of August, when the season closed, the fishing was very irregular, 
and the quality of the fish inferior. With the exception of one night, 
the weather was favourable for fishing. The total quantity of herrings 
cured was 30,248 barrels, against 22,958 in the previous year. There 
was no loss of life nor damage to boacs, and the loss of nets, caused 
chiefly by fouling, amounted to only about £150. 
The winter and spring fishing, which was carried on between 1st 
January and the end of April, was prosecuted by 12 boats, — the same 
number as in 1888. The season was more productive than the previous 
one, 630 crans being landed, against 282 crans in 1888. Forty-two crans 
