xlvi 
Ninth Annual Report of the 
places, and fishermen, being thrown upon their own resources for 
the disposal of their fish, which are carted long distances to the 
nearest railway station, for consignment to agents in London, 
Birmingham, and other large towns, use the telegraph to advise 
their agents of the despatch of the consignments. The success of 
the fishing at any station is immediately communicated to other 
stations along the coast by means of the wire, thus enabling 
fishermen from other places to participate in the fishing before 
the shoals leave the coast. Communications of this nature are 
of common occurrence between Scrabster and Wick, and vice 
versa. At the former station nearly all the fish landed are sold 
by auction by Wick salesmen, who, when the fishing is poor, return 
to Wick along with the buyers. Should chance takes, however, 
be landed at Scrabster, after the salesmen have left, the fishermen 
immediately wire to Wick, where the fish are purchased according 
to the quantity and dcvscription given, the bayers thereafter pro- 
ceeding to Scrabster and taking possession of their purchases. 
By this means fishermen always receive a higher price for their 
fish than by selling privately. As in previous years, when by 
reason of gales of wind and stormy weather, boats could not reach 
their own ports, and had to run to distant places for shelter, 
causing alarm and apprehension of disaster among the relatives of 
the fishermen, telegraphic communication was at once resorted to, 
and in the course of an hour or two replies were received account- 
ing for the missing crews. Whenever the fishing was successful at 
Wick the resident officer communicated the news to the officers at 
the adjoining stations, for the information of fishermen who, as a 
rule, took advantage of the intimation, and often succeeded in 
securing good takes of herring. 
Orkney From the Orkney district, the officer reports that among other 
district. instances of the benefits derived from telegraphic extension was one 
that occurred on the 2nd of August, when a message was received 
from Wick, intimating that a heavy fishing was being landed there 
that day. The different stations in Orkney having been instantly 
apprised by wire, a number of the South-Isles boats proceeded to 
the Wick fishing ground and secured fair takes, which some of 
them landed at Wick, and others at Watersouud, in Orkney. 
Messages were frequently transmitted for fishermen's information 
between the North and South Isles of Orkney, during the herring 
fishing season, giving details of fishing, and indicating as nearly 
as possible the most productive fishing ground, which was a great 
boon to all concerned in the herring fishery in Orkney. 
Shetland The Shetland officer reports that during the past year the tele- 
district, graphic extensions to the more remote parts of his district have been 
of great benefit to all parties engaged in the fishing industry, and were 
largely taken advantage of, not only by them, but by the general 
public; and there is every indication that they will be made use of 
to a still greater extent in future years. A large portion of fishery 
business, such as advice of fresh fish to the southern markets, of 
herring shipments to the Continent, and of insurance of the various 
cargoes, is now done by means of the wire. The telegraph still 
continues to be of great value during the haddock fishing season, 
and but for the facilities afforded by it, it would be almost im- 
