10 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
Scrabster on 2nd May, where it was continued till 26th July, the large 
catch of 16,000 crans having been landed there during that time by a 
fleet varying from 40 to 100 boats. Two-thirds of the catch was cured 
and shipped to the Continent, and the average price to fishermen was 14s. 
per cran. The fishing commenced at Wick on 25th June, and was con- 
tinued till 5th September, the total catch of herrings in that time being 
76,412 crans, giving a gross catch for the district of 92,412 crans, being 
an average of 172 J crans for the 442 boats employed, against 197 J crans 
for 432 boats in the previous year. The boats were 53 nights at sea, and 
only on one night were they obliged to remain ashore by reason of stormy 
weather. During the middle of August a limited number of the boats went 
to the offshore fishing ground, from 25 to 30 miles distant, and from which 
they landed fair takes of herrings, but the great bulk of the season's catch 
was got on the inshore ground at from 2 to 8 miles of! the shore. In July 
the herrings were of good quality, from one-third to one-half of the 
catch being full fish, but during the remainder of the season they were 
very inferior, — nine-tenths of the catch being small and spent fish. The 
proportion of full herrings for the season was not more than a sixth of 
the gross catch. The highest single take was 130 crans, but takes vary- 
ing from 100 to 129 crans were frequently landed. The largest gross 
catch for the season by any one boat was 600 crans; a number of other 
boats landed from 400 to 500 crans each, and a large proportion from 200 
to 300 crans, but a number did not take 100 crans, and a few were as 
low as from 30 to 40 crans. The total quantity of herrings cured was 
151,273 barrels, being an increase of 37,567 barrels over the total for 
1888. About 160 boats were engaged to curers at from 10s. to 15s. per 
cran. The herrings caught by the remainder of the boats were sold by 
auction at prices varying from 6s. to 18s. per cran. The average price 
realised over the whole fleet was about 12s. per cran. Nine lives were 
lost, — eight through a boat beiug swamped, and 1 by being knocked 
overboard by a sail. Five boats were totally lost, and 12 were damaged, 
causing a total loss of £694. The loss sustained through the sinking of 
nets by the weight of herrings meshed, and by accidental fouling, was 
large, amounting to £2880. 
The winter herring fishing of 1889 was attended with average success, 
the total catch being 6667 crans, — an increase of 2071 crans over the 
winter catch of 1888. The average price paid to the fishermen was 12s. 
per cran, — making the total value £4000. The bulk of the catch was 
kippered, a small quantity cured gutted, and the remainder sent to market 
in a lightly salted state. 
Orkney District. 
The Orkney Islands ; and Swona in the Pentland Firth. 
District Fishery Office — Kirkwall. 
The early herring fishing began at Stromness on 20th June, and closed 
on 20th July, — 74 boats being employed, of which 72 were engaged to 
curers at 12s. per cran. The average catch was 80 crans, largest gross 
take 190 J crans, and lowest 25. The quality of the fish was good, — 47 
marks per barrel being obtained for the first consignments of the best 
selection and cure. Towards the middle of July prices lowered consider- 
ably, owing to large quantities being sent at that time to the Continent 
from other districts. 
The general herring fishing began on the 23rd July, and terminated on 
