of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



179 



Assistant-Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



In the fishery districts on the West Coast of Scotland, from Oban to 

 Stornoway, and on the East, from Shetland to the Banffshire coast, there 

 was an excellent demand for all kinds of fish, with the single exception 

 of mackerel, and prices ruled liigher than usual. Contrasted with the 

 preceding year, there was a marked decrease in the quantity of herring 

 and white fish. At the various places on the mainland, from Oban to 

 Cape Wrath, and in the Isle of Skye, the quantity of herring landed was 

 practically the same as in 1912, with an increased value. In the districts 

 of Barra and Stornoway exceptional success was obtained at herring 

 fishing, the increase for the two districts being some 82,000 crans in 

 quantity, and £101,000 in value, as compared with the preceding year. 



In the more important districts of Wick, Orkney, and Shetland, the 

 fishing was comparatively fight in the early part of the season, and a 

 partial failure in Shetland waters during the month of July. Thereafter, 

 good results were obtained all over by a greatly reduced fleet, chiefly sail 

 craft, most of the steam vessels having left for the East Coast and North of 

 England stations. For the three districts the catch for the year amounted 

 to 415,700 crans, valued at £742,700, being a decrease of 308,000 crans in 

 quantity, and £230,000 in value, as compared with 1912. As an indication 

 of how the industry is alternately affected by quality, weather, and market 

 conditions, it may be noted that the decrease in value for 1913 was practi- 

 cally the same as the increase for 1912. 



As the season advanced in the three Northern districts, there was an 

 increased demand for the cured article at higher prices than in the pre- 

 ceding year, by from 5s. to lOs. per barrel over the various selections. 

 Large, fat fish generally reafised from 40s. to 45s. per barrel ; medium 

 and small from 30s. to 38s. ; large fish cured as matjes occasionally fetched 

 from 50s. to 52s. per barrel. At the close of the season there was a drop in 

 these prices of from 3s. to 5s. per barrel. The shortage in the catch, and 

 the high prices paid to fishermen, made the season unprofitable to curers, 

 and adversely effected the earnings of shore workers. Fortunately, 

 herrings were plentiful on the East Coast, and later on in great abundance 

 at Yarmouth and Lowestoft — to which stations the unused barrels and salt 

 were transferred to good advantage. Fishermen and shore workers, as 

 well as curers, participated in the proceeds, and finished up the year with 

 earnings and profits beyond their most sanguine expectations. 



In the fishery districts on the north shores of the Moray Firth, where 

 practically nothing has been done at herring fishing for a number of years 

 in succession, most of the fishermen now find employment from May to 

 November as hired men, chiefly on board craft belonging to the south side 

 of the Firth. A large number of women were also employed for a similar 

 period as gutters and packers in connection with the various fishings, 

 and the combined earnings constitute the principal source of income for 

 the year. 



Nearly all the fishermen resident on the south shores of the Firth con- 

 tinue to devote the whole of their time to the various herring fishings on 

 the Scottish, English, and Irish coasts, and their gross earnings for the 

 year were the highest on record. On the stretch of coast from Nairn to 

 Troup Head there was a total of 491 steam drifters on the various registers 

 at the close of the year. The increase for 1913 was 29, and it is fully 

 expected that by the close of 1914 there will be a further increase of 50. 

 The latest additions to the fleet cost £2900 for wood, and £3600 for steel- 

 built craft. Motors were installed in several large sail boats, and a number 

 of smaU motor boats, suitable for net and fine fishing, were built during the 



