of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
15 
were lauded, against 630 crans the previous season. The herrings which 
were not used for bait were sent to market in a slightly roused state. 
Lybster District. 
From Dimbeath, exclusive, to East Clyth, inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Lybster. 
The summer herring fishing of 1890 commenced on the 1st July, but 
all the boats were not ]-eady for sea at that date, and the fishing did not 
become general till the 15th July, from which date it was continued till 
the 6th September. 74 boats were employed in the district — 7 at 
Latheron wheel and 67 at Lybster. ^N'one of these boats were engaged 
to curers, all selling their herrings at daily prices. The total catch for 
the season was 6952 crans, which gave an average of 93J crans per 
boat, and the average price was about 10s. per cran. The most success- 
ful fishing was that during the week ended 2nd August, when about 
3000 crans were landed, from the fishing ground close inshore, 2 to 5 
miles from land. A few trials were made at from 15 to 20 miles off the 
shore, but herrings were scarce at that distance — nearly the whole of the 
catch being got on the inshore fishing ground. The highest single take was 
landed on the 5th August, and amounted to 127 crans. The largest gross 
catch by any one boat during the season was about 300 crans, while a 
few landed from 180 to 250 crans, but some averaged as low as 40 
crans. The quality of the herrings was fairly good, the largest proportion 
being ' matie fulls,' about a fourth ' fulls,' and the remainder small and 
spent fish. The total number of barrels cured was 11,307, being a 
decrease of 2632 barrels from the previous year. The total branded 
only amounted to 1000 barrels, showing a decrease of 2929 barrels 
from the quantity branded in 1889. 
The winter herring fishing was prosecuted during the months of 
January, February and March, but the total quantity landed by the 
25 boats engaged was only 321 crans, or 28 crans less than during the 
same period of 1889. The price was good, the average being about 
188. per cran. None ofj the herrings were cured, nearly all being 
kippered, and a few crans sent to English markets in a lightly salted 
state. Very stormy weather prevented the regular prosecution of this 
fishing. 
There was no loss of life during the year, and no boats were either 
wrecked or damaged. The loss of nets and lines amounted to £756. 
Wick District. 
From East Clyth, exclusive, to Cape Wrath, inclusive, including the Island 
of Stroma in the Pentland Firth. 
District Fishery Office — Wick. 
The summer herring fishing of 1890 was prosecuted by 440 boats — of 
which 412 fished at Wick, 9 at Boathaven, Elzie and Staxigoe, 11 at 
Keiss, and 8 at Scrabster, being a decrease of 2 boats as compared with 
the number fishing in 1889. Of these boats 46 were from Banff district, 
15 from Inverness, 12 from Fife, 1 from Leith, 1 from Berwick, 10 from 
Orkney, 2 from Lerwick, 45 from Stornoway, and 308 belonged to 
Wick district. 
