14 
Ap'pcndices to Ninth Anmtal Report 
showed the best results, the average for the former being 27 crans and 
for the latter 53 crans. On one day of the latter week the fleet of 30 
boats averaged 30 crans, several having takes of 70 to 86 crans — the 
latter being the highest take of the season. Nearly all the boats on that 
day lost part of their nets through foaling and weight of fish. The fish- 
ing may be said to have terminated at the middle of August, only 385 
crans being taken after that date. The 30 boats landed an average of 
115^ crans at Portmahomack, against 78 J crans for 40 boats in the 
previous year. The quality of the herrings was very good, the catch 
consisting chiefly of full fish. They were also of a larger size than is 
generally got in this neighbourhood. The price ranged from 8s. to 16s. 
per cran, averaging 12s. The weather was very favourable for fishing. 
There was no loss of life nor damage to boats, but the loss of netting 
was estimated at £370. 
The winter herring fishing was only prosecuted to a very limited 
extent at Portmahomack, Cromarty and Avocli, during the months of 
January, February and March, and again in November and December — 
principally for bait purposes — the remainder of the catch, amounting to 
154 crans, being used in a fresh state. 
Helmsdale District. 
From north side of Meikle Ferry to Dunbeath, both inclusive. 
District Fishei^ Office — Helmsdale. 
The summer herring fishing of 1890 was prosecuted by 122 boats — 
the same number as in the previous year. Of these, 110 boats fished 
from Hi'lmsdale and 12 from Dunbeath, of which 94 belonged to the 
district. The fishing began on the 8th July, but was not in full operation 
until the 22nd of that month, and was regularly and succevSsfully prose- 
cuted till the 22nd of August, when it practically closed, only 270 
crans being landed after that date. The most successful week was that 
ended the 2nd of August, when 5065 crans were landed. The highest 
single take was 93 crans ; the most successful boat landed 412 crans, 
and several landed from 200 to 320 crans — the lowest aggregate catch 
being 43 crans. The district boats were all engaged to curers at prices 
ranging from 12s. to 14s. a cran, or an average of 13s., as were also the 
majority of the other boats. The quality of the herrings was superior to 
that of the previous year, and the proportion of 'fulls' greater. The 
bulk of the herrings landed at Helmsdale were taken at from 5 to 8 miles 
off the shore for about 6 miles along the coast. The Dunbeath boats 
got most of their catches close inshore off Dunbeath, the fishing being 
the most successful ever experienced there. They supplied the home 
station with an average of 183 crans, besides landing an average of 60 
crans at Wick, Lybster and Helmsdale. The average catch at Helmsdale 
was 152| crans, giving an average for the fleet of 155 J crans, or a total 
of 18,889 crans against 14,538 crans the previous year. The weather 
throughout was remarkably fine, no fishing nights being lost through bad 
weather. There was no loss of life, nor damage of any consequence to 
boats. The loss of netting was also trifling, and was caused chiefly by 
fouling — the total damage being estimated at £320. 
The winter and spring fishing was not successful — the supply of herrings 
for bait being generally insufficient. During the three principal months 
of the season — January, February and March, only 103 crans of herrings 
