16 Appendices to Ninth Annual Report 
The total number of boats belonging to the district is 763, made up of 
331 first class, 62 second class, and 370 third class. The fishing 
commenced at Scrabster on the 10th May, where it was continued till the 
9th August, the catch during that time amounting to 16,526 crans, 
against 16,000 in 1889. The fleet varied from 50 to 150 boats, but 
owing to a very severe gale on the 25th June — which caused a loss of 
35 lives, 9 boats, and a great quantity of netting — a number of boats left the 
station at the time when the fishing was most successful. Fully two- 
thirds of the catch was cured and shipped to the Continent, and as the 
quality was good, remunerative prices were got for them. The average 
price paid to fishermen was 14s. 6d. per cran, all the herrings being sold 
by public auction. The fishing commenced at Wick on the 3rd June, 
and was continued till the 3rd September, the total catch being 79,886 
crans, giving a gross catch for the district of 96,412 crans, or an average 
of 219 crans for the 440 boats employed, against 209 crans for 442 boats 
in 1889. The boats were 64 nights at sea, only two nights being lost 
through stormy weather. Though a part 4)f the fleet tried the fishing at 
from 18 to 30 miles offshore, where occasional good takes were caught, 
the principal and most successful fishing ground during the season w^as 
inshore, at from 2 to 10 miles from land. Up to the 12th of August the 
herrings were of fine quality, more than a third of the gross take being full 
fish, but after that date the quality was inferior, three-fourths of the 
catch being small and spent. The highest single take was 154f crans, 
and the next 152 J crans, besides which there was a number of takes 
varying from 100 to 127 crans landed. The largest gross catch by one 
boat was about 600 crans ; a few had from 300 to 500 crans, a large 
number landed from 150 to 280 crans, while others did not reach 100 
crans. The total quantity of herrings cured was 123,643 barrels, being a 
decrease of 27,630 barrels as compared with 1889. One hundred and two 
boats were engaged to curers at from 10s. to 14s. per cran, the remainder 
of the boats selling their catches by auction at from 8s. to 23s. per cran, 
the average price being about 12s. 6d. per cran. Forty-five lives were 
lost during the year — 37 through boats being swamped at sea, 5 by being 
washed overboard, and 3 knocked over by the sail or tiller. Eleven boats 
were totally wrecked and 9 damaged, causing a loss of £1232, giving, 
together with the estimated loss of nets — which was £3831 — a total loss 
of £5063. 
The winter herring fishing of 1890 was attended with more than 
average success, the total catch being 9301 crans, of which 3919 crans 
were caught at Wick and 5382 at Scrabster, being an increase of 2634 
crans over the catch of 1889. The average price paid to the fishermen 
was 14s. 6d. per cran, making the gross value £6743. About a third of 
the catch was cured for the Continent ; the largest portion of the re- 
mainder was sent to market in a sprinkled state, while a quantity was 
kippered. 
Okkney District. 
The Orkney Islands ; and Swona in tte Pentland Firth. 
District Fishery Office — Kirkwall. 
The early herring fishing, which was opened by a few boats at Stroni- 
ness in the week ended 14th June, became general at the beginning of 
the succeeding week, and closed on the 17th of July. Seventy boats, 
which were engaged to curers at 10s. per cran, proceeded to sea. 
There were 114 boats in the harbour on one occasion. The number of 
