176 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



fortunate in securijig these heavy hauls reaUsed in a single night from £300 

 to £400. A very remarkable catch of 364 crans. which required the efforts 

 of other two crews and their boats to brinc^ to land, was secured in a fleet of 

 75 nets. The average earnings of the steamers were from £800 to £1200, 

 and for sail boats £450. The most successful steamer earned £1800. 

 From its commencement, the season, on accomit of the high prices paid for 

 the green fish, was an anxious one for the curer. Prices obtained for the 

 cured article left no profit. The quality, however, was good, and towards 

 the close of the year very few remained on hand for shipment. 



In the districts of Banff, Buckie, and Findhorn the outstanding 

 features of the year were the faUing ofi in the local fisheries and the abnor- 

 mally high prices realised for all kinds of fish landed. The shortage was 

 maiidy due to a scarcity of fish on the inshore grounds referable chiefly 

 to herrings, cod, and haddock. Fortunately, only a small proportion of 

 the fishermen are dependent on the local fisheries. With few exceptions 

 the boats belonging to the above districts prosecute the great summer 

 herring fishing from Wick, Lerwick, Orkney, and other East Coast ports. 

 The average number of boats working from Macduff was 25, Buckie 16, and 

 Lossiemouth 10. The total landings in all three districts amounted to 

 15,232 crans, as compared with 30,519 in 1912. 



At the ports on the Moray Firth from Macdufi to Burghhead on the 

 south side, and from Cromarty to Lybster on the north, the landings now 

 are made chiefly by boats home for the week ends to replenish their stores. 

 Following the poor home season came a very successful Enghsh fishing 

 which compensated the fishermen for the shortage in the catch. It also 

 meant splendid earnings for fish- workers and the clearing out of stocks of 

 barrels whereby employment for coopers during the winter was assured. 



Although in the catch of herrings at Wick there is a decrease of over 

 61,000 crans, the value compares favourably with that of the previous year. 

 Preparations for the season were on a larger scale than in any previous year. 

 Not only w^ere there a larger number of barrels provided, but considerable 

 stocks of salt were laid in. Up to about the end of July fears were enter- 

 tained that the fishing would turn out a failure, but with the advent of 

 August a marked improvement set in. Fortunately the shoals made their 

 appearance on grounds which were more accessible than was the case earlier 

 in the season, with the result that some excellent catches were obtained. 

 A feature of the season was the landing of a number of heavy catches of 

 over 100 crans, one of the craft bringing ashore a catch of 200 crans, while 

 another landed 214 crans. During the season of 1912, which was a record 

 one for the port, the highest shot secured was 100 crans. The average 

 price for the season was 38s. 6d. per cran, as compared with 26s. 3d. in 1912. 

 Owing to the keen competition and high prices steamers earned from £1000 

 to £2000, sailers from £200 to £800, and motor boats from £700 to £1300. 



On the whole the hired men had a very successful season. Those on 

 board drifters earned from £25 to £80, while those employed on sail-boats 

 earned from £18 to £60. 



The strike among these men for better terms, which at an early period 

 of the season threatened to have serious consequences, was fortmiately 

 settled by the men agreeing to accept the conditions offered by the owners 

 of boats and share fishermen. The result of the strike was that a number of 

 West Highland fishermen who usually find employment on East Coast 

 boats were superseded by men from inland centres and also from Ireland. 



Fish w^orkers — gutters and packers — also had one of the most satis- 

 factory seasons on record — particularly when the earnings at Yarmouth 

 and Lowestoft are taken into consideration. 



It was feared that unless a successful catch was secured in East Angfia 

 to use up the surplus stocks which remained in the hands of curers at the 



