172 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



2,377,022 cwts. ; Orkney and Shetland, 1,027,693 cwts. , and West Coast, 

 1,044,606 cwts. Operations were conducted from practically every fishing 

 port on the coast wuth varied success. Notwithstanding that there has been 

 a marked increase in the catching power, the landings on the East Coast 

 and Orkney and Shetland showed considerable decreases. On the other 

 hand, in the catch of herrings on the West Coast, there is an increase of 46 

 per cent, in quantity and in value of 52 per cent, as compared with the 

 previous year. 



Otter trawling, in which 6 fewer vessels — 2 steamers and 4 sailers — 

 were employed than in 1912, is the most important branch of the white 

 fishing industry, and during the year mider review was very successful also, 

 as there was an increase in the quantity landed of 156,256 cwts., and in the 

 value of £196,048 as compared with the previous year. During the vear a 

 large portion of the catch was landed by German vessels fishing in Icelandic 

 waters. The number of arrivals of foreign trawlers at Aberdeen has 

 increased from 135 in 1906 to 572 in 1913, and their catches from 

 135,114 cwts. to 530,178 cwts. respectively. Previous to 1913 from 

 20 to 30 vessels invariably suspended operations during the months of 

 July and August on account of low prices and poor demand, but on no 

 occasion during the year under review were the markets for fresh fish in a 

 depressed condition. The average price of trawl fish was lis. 2d. per cwt. 

 as compared with 10s. 4d. in 1912, and 9s. 2d. in 1911. 



Neither great Hne nor small hne fishing was carried on with any measure 

 of success, and the quantity taken by these methods shows a decrease of 

 174,524 cwts. as compared with the previous year. On both the offshore 

 and inshore grounds white fish of all descriptions were extremely scarce, 

 and from all parts of the coast came the same reports as to the paucity of 

 the catches. The most marked shortage was in haddock. Were it not for 

 the fillip given to hne fishing at several creeks on the coast by the intro- 

 duction of motor power, the landings would have shown a very much larger 

 decrease. The average price of hne-caught fish was 10s. lOd. per cwt., 

 being an advance of Is. 5d. per cwt. as compared with 1912. Line haddocks 

 show an advance of 2s. lOd. per cwt., while the less valuable varieties have 

 all risen in price. 



The year 1913 was remarkable for the early commencement of the great 

 summer herring fishing. By the beginning of May a small fleet was 

 working from Lerwick, and towards the middle of the month between 300 

 and 400 boats were employed. A promising start was made and some 40,000 

 crans were landed. Steadily the fleet increased, and by the beginning of 

 June between 700 and 800 boats were fishing in Shetland waters. Not- 

 withstanding favourable weather conditions the fishing unfortunately then 

 fell away, with the result that by the end of July the stranger vessels had 

 taken their departure. The landings during the three months the fishing 

 lasted showed a decrease of 697,630 cwts., and £197,188 in value, as com- 

 pared with the previous year. 



The collapse of the fishing at Lerwick came as a great surprise not only 

 to the curers and fishworkers, but to the traders who — reckoning on the 

 success of previous years — had made extensive preparations for catering 

 for some thousands of strangers. 



The preparations for the new season which it was hoped would prove 

 not only a record one but a remunerative one for all were on the most 

 extensive scale ; consequently curers lost heavily through having laid in 

 large supplies of barrels and salt which they were obhged to transport else- 

 where. The loss to the native workers was also a very serious one. 



It is, however, gratifying to state that the local fleet employed at the 

 herring fishing fared better than for the past 14 years. This was mainly 

 due to the meagre catches, whereby prices were forced up to a figure 



