of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



171 



APPENDIX L. 



REPORTS BY THE INSPECTORS OF SEA FISHERIES AND] 

 DISTRICT FISHERY OFFICERS. 



1. Inspectoes of Sea Fisheries. 



General Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



The results of the various fisheries for the year under review were the 

 most remunerative on record, although as regards quantity thev fell con- 

 siderably short of 1912. In the returns of herrings there is a shortage of 

 751,977 cwts., but an increase of £177,221 in value. White fish also show 

 an increase in value, concurrently with a decrease in the catch. The high 

 prices reaHsed for herrings and white fish — which have exceeded all previous 

 records — were largely dae (1) to the short supphes ; (2) to the prosperity 

 of the country and the improved position of the working classes ; and (3) 

 to the good demand for both fresh and cured fish abroad. 



The number of boats employed in the fisheries was 8991, a decrease of 

 299 as compared with 1912. To this decrease the East Coast contributed 

 74, Orkney and Shetland 17, and the West Coast 208. Of steam fishing 

 vessels (exclusive of trawlers) there are 884, valued at £2,051,980, nearly 

 all of which were employed at herring fishing. For the first time since the 

 inauguration of the steam drifter the West Coast contributed 3 vessels to 

 the fleet. Of resident fishermen there is a decrease of 457, due chiefly to 

 the dechne of the inshore fisheries and to emigration. 



The most notable feature in connection with the means of capture was 

 the large increase in the value of boats and fishing gear, amounting to over a 

 quarter of a milhon sterhng. Altogether 43 steam drifters were built at a 

 cost of £118,430, in addition to which a number of second-hand steam 

 vessels were purchased on the Enghsh coast and added to the fleet. 



The total number of boats fitted with motor auxiliary power is 523, 

 valued at £147,436. It was in 1904 that the Board undertook the experi 

 ment of equipping a first-class sailing boat with motor power. Up to 

 1908 progress was somewhat slow, but since then it has been most satis- 

 factory. The additions made to the fleet in 1913 were : East Coast, 120 ; 

 Orkney and Shetland, 8 ; and West Coast, 39. Altogether 167 boats were 

 fitted with motor power, the number on the East Coast having been exactly 

 doubled as compared with 1912. East Coast fishermen were slow to adopt 

 the system, but the success of many of the boats employed was such that 

 they could not but be convinced of its utihty. Another reason, and 

 probably the most cogent, is the interest taken in mechanical power by 

 the younger generation. 



Of the various fisheries prosecuted on the Scottish coasts the herring 

 fishing is the most important. Apart from the aUied trades connected with 

 the industry there were about 72,000 persons directly engaged in the 

 catching, curing, and exporting of the fish to market. The total catch for 

 the whole of Scotland, including Northumberland, was 4,449,323 cwts.. 

 valued at £2,087,754, as compared with 5,201,300 cwts. and £1,910,533 in 

 value in 1912. The catch may be allotted as follows : East Coast, 



