Fishery Board for Scotland. 
xlv 
niul others euga^ed in tho fishing industry, as they afford them extension as 
great facilities in ci)nducting their operatioiis. By this means tha 
carers and foreign herring wjerchants are ablti, during the season, bo fisheries, 
liave constant communication with each other — sales of cured 
lierrings on the Continent and the prices realised being known as 
far distant as Barra, almost as sjon as they take place. It is also of 
primary importance to the consigners to know the stocks of 
herrings on hand in the Russian and German markets, so that they 
may be abh^ to judge as to the places to which they can most 
advantageously send their consignments. When the fishing turns 
out more pr.)ducbive at remote stations than was anticipated, the 
curers can bring to the spot extra supplies of barrels and salt and 
other materials necessary for carrying on their trade, in a much 
shorter time than before ; and they can also more quickly charter 
additional vessels when such are required, and get their goods 
insured. Fishermen are also enabled, during the fishing season, to 
((et early information as to the places wh:?re shoals of fish appear, 
so that they can remove from one station to another, and thus more 
successfully prosecute the industry. The fishery officers, on learning 
that herrings have appeared in their respective districts, have been 
instructed to telegraph the fact to officers in neighbouring districts, 
for communication to the fishermen. 
It may also be mentioned that it is of great importance to those 
engaged in the distribution of fresh fish throughout the country to 
know, day by day, at what centres of the population suitable sup- 
plies are being delivered, and where further supplies are required, 
in order that they may be able to so regulate their trade as to secure 
the greatest benefit to themselves and the community, by avoiding 
the risk of sending fish to markets already fully stjcked or being 
kept in ignorance of new markets. This necessary knowledge can 
only be obtained by means of the telegraph. 
Further, a telegraph office at a remote station materially facili- 
tates the arrival in harbour of becalmed boats, as curers at the chief 
ports are enabled to receive such information in regard to the position 
and distance of the fleet as to admit of their despatching steamers 
to the places where the boats lie becalmed, and tow them into har- 
bour. A delay of a few hours at sea, through calms, has often 
caused a decrease in the value of a boat's catch of from 50 to 75 
per cent. 
The Board continue to receive reports from their officers of the Reports of 
great advantages of the telegraph in their respective districts, 
extracts from which may be here given. 
Regarding Wick district, the officer reports that the telegraphic Wiek district, 
extensions there continue to be of much service to the fishing 
population, and are being taken advantage of to an increased extent 
annually. In the remote districts of Durness, Tongue, Farr, and 
Strathy, nearly all the young and middle-aged men migrate during 
the summer season to the large fishing stations of Wick, Fraser- 
burgh, Peterhead, and Aberdeen, to be employed at the herring 
fishing as hired liands. Finding that letters are long in reaching 
them by ordinary course of post, nearly all resort to telegraphic 
commuDication, and their engagements for the season are often 
made by this means. There are few fishcurers at these remote 
