Fishery Board fm- Scotland. xMii 
iiniahed for some time, the excavation of the entrance channel has 
proved a very tedious operation. The contractors' men have been Progress of 
engaged for a considerable time at this part of the work; but the 
frequent interruptions from bad weather have prevented it baing 
finished. The excavations, however, are practically completed, and 
soundings are being taken to test whether the contractors have 
satisfactorily execut.^d this part of their contract. 
AucHMiTHiE Harbour, Forfarshire. — The works at this Auchmithie 
harbour, as stated in last Eeport, were undertaken under a Pro- Harbour, 
visional Order constituting a body of trustees, witli power to levy 
dues, for the management and maintenance of the harbour, who 
adopted a plan for the work by Mr James Barron, C.E., Wick. The 
plan was approved by the Board, and Mr Barron was appointed 
engineer. Working plans and specifications were prepared by him, 
and a contract entered into with Mr John Malcolm, Dunnet, 
Caithness, to execute the works for the sum of £4428. It was 
further agreed that the Board should contribute a sum not 
exceeding £3375 towards the completion of the harbour, on con- 
dition that the trustees in the first instance expended £1125 on 
the works. The contractor commenced operations in February of Progress of 
last year. The whole of the concrete work in quay walls and 
breakwater, has been completed, with the exception of a portion of 
the covering of the roadway. The rock excavation to low-water 
level is completed, and a considerable portion of the rock below 
level of low water has been excavated to the specified depth. The 
work, so far as executed, is of good quality, and has been carefully 
inspected. The works have been well tested during the winter, 
and have suffered no damage whatever ; and it is expected that the 
harbour will be shortly completed. 
The Board, during the course of last year, received several Applications 
applications for assistance towards building or improving other JeLtv^cffw^ 
fishery harbours on various parts of the coasts of Scotland ; but other Har- 
they regret that, owing to the funds at their disposal for this pur- 
pose being all allocated, they were unable in the meantime to 
entertain any of these applications. 
In consequence, public attention is being called to the inadequacy 
of the present grant to this object, which still remains at the sum 
fixed in 1809, when by the Act 48 Geo. III. c. 110, sec. 55, the 
Fishery Commissioners were authorised ' to allow premiums or 
' bounties not exceeding the sum of £3000 in whole in any one 
' year,' to be paid to persons employing boats of not less than 15 
tons in taking herrings on the coast of Scotland. In 1824, by the 
Act 5 Geo. IV. c. 64, sac. 9, £2500 of this annual grant was directed 
to be applied to ' encouraging and assisting the building, making, or 
' repairing of piers or quays at such ports and places on the sea coasts 
* of Scotland as shall appear to the Commissioners to be most fit 
' and necessary,' — and the balance of £500 ' in providing materials 
' for the repair of boats of poor fishermen at such ports or places 
' where piers or quays are or shall be built.' This continued down . 
to the year 1850, when by a Treasury Minute the whole of the 
£3000 was appointed to be applied to harbours, which has since 
been done with the addition (since 1883) of a portion of the surplus 
brand fees. These fees in some years have represented a consider- 
able mm, but last year the available surplus only amountei to 
