xxiv 



Thirty-second Annual Report 



boats landed 69 per cent., and steamers 31 per cent. Of motor boats 

 only 5 were then in existence. In 1913, sailing boats landed 28 per 

 cent., motor boats 8 per cent., and steamers 64 per cent. 



The quantity of trawled herrings landed was 12,106 cwts., which 

 realised £6628, as against 5714 cwts. and £2698 in 1912. This quantity 

 is insignificant in itself, but it forms no index of the extent to which 

 trawling for herrings is actually carried on, as this method of fishing 

 is prosecuted chiefly from English trawling ports. During the last 

 two years trawling for herrings has been the subject of considerable 

 agitation by drift-net fishermen, who allege that this method of fishing 

 destroys large quantities of immature fish, and so threatens the future 

 of their own industry ; and in view of the importance of the question 

 and the magnitude of the interests involved, an Inter-Departmental 

 Committee was appointed to inquire into the whole question of its 

 efiect upon the fisheries. This Committee drew up a scheme of 

 investigation, in the carrying out of which the Board were asked 

 to co-operate, and the inquiries undertaken (a description of which will 

 be found under Part III. of this Report), resulted in a great mass of 

 records being obtained, which are now being tabulated and considered. 



From the fishermen's point of view, the Scottish season of 1913 

 was altogether successful. Curers, however, found it a very trying 

 one, notwithstanding the buoyant tone of the Cq^tinental markets ; 

 while the earnings of shore workers were curtailed owing to the shortage 

 in the catch. But no review of the year's herring fishing would be 

 complete which left out of account the operations of Scottish fishermen 

 at the English autumn fishing, and there, with a catch which was the 

 greatest on record, the season was an unqualified success for all con- 

 cerned. Curers amply retrieved any losses incurred during the 

 Scottish fishing ; shore workers had almost more work than they could 

 overtake ; while fishermen, with their record earnings there added to 

 record earnings in Scotland, could at the close of the season look back 

 upon the most lucrative year in their experience. 



Winter Herring Fishing. 



The winter herring fishing of 1913 was the heaviest ever landed, 

 the total catch amounting to 626,197 cwts., valued at £174,740, as 

 against 247,313 cwts. and £64,195 in 1912. The districts responsible 

 for the increase are Stornoway (chiefly). Wick, and Fort- William, as the 

 catch in the Firth of Forth shows a decline of about 25,000 cwts., or 

 37 per cent., from that of the preceding year. About three-fifths of 

 the total are referable to Stornoway, where the season was remarkably 

 successful, the catch exceeding the previous highest — landed in 1907 — 

 by 147,000 cwts., or 67 per cent. Extensive shoals were located in the 

 Minch and along the North Coast, and their density is evidenced by the 

 fact that the Stornoway catch was landed by a fleet which at no time 

 exceeded 140 steamers, whereas the catch of 1907 represented the 

 landings of a fleet of nearly 300 drifters ; and that the bulk of the 

 47,000 cwts. landed at Wick was secured by a fleet of from 12 to 18 

 steam vessels. 



The fish were of good quality for winter herrings, and the average 

 price per cwt. realised — 5s. 7d. — was 5d. more than in the preceding 

 year. 



