CONFERENCES WITH FISHERMEN. 
A conference was held at Alnmouth on Thursday, 81st October, 
Mr. Robertson presiding. 
Fishing has greatly declined at Alnmouth, there are now only 
ten men engaged in the industry, three cobles being in use. At one 
time, in the memory of the majority of those present, the herring 
fishing gave employment to the crews of 16 or 18 boats, Boulmer 
being used to a large extent for landing the catches. At that time, too, 
8 or i) cobles prosecuted the line and crab fishing. The three boats 
at present occupied in line fishing do very much worse than before. 
They cannot obtain the large catches of good haddocks, nor in fact 
so large a weight of fish even of poorer quality. The salmon fishing 
is improving, the change in the Coquet in this respect also affecting 
the catches in Alnmouth Bay. 
The meeting was strongly of the opinion that a very good mussel 
bed could be formed in the Coquet, and that the Harbour Com- 
missioners should be approached to give the protection desired and 
to regulate and develope the Coquet for such a purpose. 
The meeting at Newbigginon 15th November was well attended 
under the chairmanship of Mr. Tate. A very useful conference on 
the condition of the fisheries was held. As usual the men complained 
that the line-fishing was gradually getting worse and worse. The 
grounds which were at one time available at about 40 fathoms are 
not now worth visiting, and trawlers deplete them whenever fish are 
to be found there. The fishing is done nowadays in 25-30 fathoms, 
and only produces little more than half a basket per man, who has 
to pay 2s. for his bait. Fifteen cobles are at present prosecuting the 
line and crab fishing. During the summer 11 or 12 herring boats, 
employing about 80 men, tend to preserve the fishing population, 
but during the winter the majority of the men work at the neigh- 
bouring coal-pits. 
The crab fishing is said to be still keeping pretty good, but the 
lobster fishing is undoubtedly worse. 
Newbiggin, as regards trout and salmon fishing, occupies a 
unique position, for on the north side of Newbiggin Point the boats 
can fish for a fortnight longer than on the south side. 
