of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xliii 



cured and exported to France, where they are used as bait in the 

 sardine fishery. The quantity so dealt with in Aberdeen in 1913 was 

 2840 barrels, as against 2600 barrels in 1912, the prices realised 

 ranging from 35s. to r)6s. per barrel, according to quality and cure. 

 Another method of utilising roes which is growing in importance is 

 that of preserving the milt of the male herring in tins. This article is 

 considered a delicacy wherever it has been tried, and is now being 

 distributed all over the world. 



PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE SCOTTISH SEA FISHERIES AND 

 ALLIED INDUSTRIES. 



It must always remain difficult to take an exact census of the 

 numbers of persons engaged in connection with the Scottish fisheries, 

 as not only are a considerable proportion of them necessarily migratory 

 in their habits, but many find only partial employment in the industry. 

 The total number who have annually earned at least a substantial 

 portion of their livelihood in the fisheries and allied industries has, 

 however, remained in the vicinity of 90,000 since the present method of 

 compiling the return (Appendix F. No. I. (p. 142)) was adopted in 

 1896, although the capital and annual output of the industry have in 

 the same period increased so enormously. 



For 1913 the total number works out at 90,679, composed roughly 

 of 40,000 fishermen, 20,000 persons engaged in curing, 20,000 in 

 carrying fish, and 10,000 in manufacturing and carrying curing stock. 

 The proportions have remained much the same since 1896. The number 

 for 1913 shows an increase of 964 as compared with 1912. The increase 

 is mainly referable to the greater number of men employed as carters 

 and labourers and in unclassified occupations in Aberdeen. 



The efl[ect of the temporary failure of the Shetland herring fishing is 

 seen in the largely decreased number of men, both British and Foreign, 

 returned as having been employed in the carrying trade in that district, 

 the numbers for 1912 and 1913 being respectively 2307 and 1108. 



To the total fishing population the scattered districts of Shetland 

 and Stornoway (Lewis and Harris), with their numerous crofter fisher- 

 men, contribute most ; Buckie, the principal home port of the drifter 

 fleet, and Aberdeen, the headquarters of the trawling industry, come 

 next, followed at intervals by Leith, Fraserburgh, and Peterhead. 



The subsidiary occupations are centred mainly at the headquarters 

 of the trawling and steam drifter fleets on the East Coast. Net- 

 making to some extent forms an exception, the largest number so 

 engaged being returned from Greenock district, where flourishing 

 factories exist. 



BOAT-BUILDING. 



The number of fishing vessels constructed again showed a decrease 

 as compared with the previous year, the total having fallen from 208 

 to 203. 



The number of steam fishing vessels, other than trawlers, which were 

 launched in 1913 was 43, valued at £118,430, or an average of £2754 

 each, as against 34, valued at £100,500, or an average of £2956 each, 



