of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xxxvii 



steamers, 6 motor boats, and 7 sailing boats, as compared with 244 

 steamers, 5 motor, and 9 sailing boats in 1912 ; and the total catch 

 amounted to 102,074 cwts., valued at £40,572, as against 103,030 cwts. 

 and £33,808 in the preceding year. It is evident from these figures 

 that the success attained was much greater than in. 1912, and this is 

 confirmed by a comparison of the average earnings, which amounted 

 to £239 for steamers, £566 for motor boats, and £327 for sailing boats, 

 as against £128, £221, and £170 respectively in the preceding year. 

 It will be observed from these figures that steamers were for the second 

 year in succession less successful than either motor or sailing boats 

 while engaged in Irish waters. 



FISH USED FRESH. 



The estimated quantity of fish sold for consumption in Scotland 

 in a fresh state, or dispatched fresh from Scotland, during the year 

 1913, will be found under Appendix C (page 126). 



The returns show that 1,961,853 cwts., or 53,856 cwts. more than in 

 1912, were thus disposed of, this quantity representing 25 per cent, 

 of the total quantity landed, as against 22 per cent, in the preceding 

 year. Cod and codlings constituted 25 per cent, of the whole, haddocks, 

 23 per cent., herrings 10 per cent., flat-fish (which are almost without 

 exception all sold fresh) 10 per cent., skate 7 per cent., and whitings 

 6 J per cent., other important contributors being saithe, ling, and 

 mackerel, in the order given. 



As compared with last year's returns, increases of considerable 

 amount are shown by cod and codlings (88,000 cwts.), whitings (54,000 

 cwts.), ling (23,000' cwts.), haddocks (20,000 cwts.), and mackerel 

 (18,000 cwts.), while by far the largest decrease (131,000 cwts.) is shown 

 t)y herrings, the only other decreases of any magnitude occurring in 

 conger eels (15,000 cwts.) and skate (8500 cwts.). 



In view of the greatly diminished catch of haddocks, the increase 

 in the quantity sold fresh is somewhat striking, and connotes a large 

 falling off in the quantity cured ; while the decline in the quantity 

 of herrings consumed fresh is of course explained by the short summer 

 catch and the keen demand for it for curing purposes. 



FISH CURED AND EXPORTED. 

 I. Herein as. 



In Scotland the curing industry is an important source of income 

 to a very large number of people. Men and women to the number 

 of nearly 38,000 were in 1913 engaged as coopers, gutters, packers, 

 seamen on carrying vessels, labourers, etc. Of this total, 12,872 

 consisted of women employed solely in gutting herrings, and their 

 total earnings for the year amounted to about £318,000, or an average 

 per woman of £25 (including arles, wages, lodgings (in England), and 

 train fares). In the Helmsdale district the women workers had the 

 unique experience of bringing more money home than the value of 

 the fish landed in the district during the whole year. Over 3500 

 came from West Coast districts — chiefly Stornoway and Barra — while 

 the remainder were from East Coast districts — Peterhead, Eraser- 



