14 IMPROVED FISHERY HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION 



years the most competent nautical authorities have regarded 

 the position of Peterhead, which is situated nearly midway 

 between these Firths, and on the most easterly promontory 

 of the mainland of Scotland, as possessing peculiar and 

 exceptional natural advantages as a site for a harbour 

 calculated to afford shelter and refuge on this dangerous 

 coast, and these advantages, have, on various occasions, 

 received national recognition." 



"That portion of the fishing ground which lies about 

 thirty miles in a south-easterly direction from Peterhead is 

 admittedly the best and most productive on the east coast 

 of Scotland, and the fishery is prosecuted in its vicinity, not 

 only by boats sailing from Peterhead, but by those engaged 

 at all the other ports and creeks on the sea-coast of 

 Aberdeenshire, extending for a distance of fifty miles, and 

 including the important fishing stations of Aberdeen and 

 Fraserburgh. The number of boats fishing at the Aberdeen- 

 shire stations, of which Peterhead is the centre, amounted 

 in 1876 to 2098 ; they were manned by 12,600 men and boys, 

 the value of property involved in their safety amounted to 

 630,000, and they afforded employment to 10,500 persons 

 on shore. Notwithstanding the inadequacy of the accommo- 

 dation at present available at the harbours of Peterhead, 

 they frequently supply means of shelter in stormy weather 

 to portions of this great fleet an important advantage, 

 which would be greatly increased if their capabilites for 

 refuge purposes were to be extended." " The Select Com- 

 mittee appointed by Parliament in 1857 to inquire into the 

 policy of making further grants of public money for the im- 

 provement and extension of harbours of refuge, collected 

 and placed on record convincing evidence in favour of Peter- 

 head as the best site on the east coast of Scotland ; and 

 the Royal Commissioners appointed to complete the inquiry 



