of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



187 



preceding year. As a rule, about 40 of the trawlers worked for the most 

 part on the near grounds about 10, 15, 20, 30 to 60 miles in the radius 

 from S.E. to N.E. from the May Island, and these as a rule accomplished 

 two landings per week, the range of their catches being usually about 20, 

 30, 40, 60 to 100 boxes. About 25 of the vessels made weekly trips, and 

 operated principally about 100 to 160 miles E. and S.E. of the May 

 Island, and northwards to as far as 100 to 130 miles E. and N.E. from 

 Girdleness. Their catches were usually from 80, 90, 100, 200 to 360 boxes, 

 the highest for the year being about 450. Contrasting the aggregate 

 trawl catch with that of the preceding year, it is seen that the landings 

 decHned in 1913 by 12,303 cwts., but that the increase in value was £12,299, 

 The aggregate value of the year's catch (£191,031) was the highest ever 

 reached, but during the last three years, while the quantity landed has been 

 decHning, the value has been steadily increasing. In regard to the com- 

 position of the trawl catches, the scarcity of haddocks seems to become 

 more evident year by year. Large cod and nearly all kinds of flat-fish 

 appear to be decreasing in the catches, but the returns show a considerable 

 increase in whitings. Notwithstanding the decrease in the landings, the 

 earnings of the fishermen were greater than formerly in consequence of 

 the higher prices reaHsed for all kinds of fish. In common with most of the 

 food commodities in daily use, fish has in recent years shown a marked 

 increase in price. This has been caused by well-known economic condi- 

 tions which have been in operation for some years, and which have affected 

 the fishing industry in particular, viz., increases in the wages of the workers 

 and in the cost of the material — vessels, gear, coals, ice, etc. — employed 

 in catching and marketing the fish. A few years ago it was a favourite 

 maxim that fish provided a cheap and appetising food supply, especially 

 for the poor. This is not now quite so true as formerly, because, in 

 consequence of the decreasing catches and the longer trawl voyages, the 

 price and quality of the fish have been moving in inverse ratio. During 

 the spring and winter when fish were scarce, it was not unusual for 80s. 

 to 140s. per cwt. to be paid for prime flat-fish ; and 6s. to 8s. each for 

 cod-fish, while small haddocks — the staple of the fish friers' trade — which 

 a few years ago had a market value of about 4s. to 8s. per cv/t., were often 

 current this year at 12s. to 16s., and on a few occasions rose as high as 30s. 

 and 32s. Indeed, high prices seem to be the predominating feature ; 

 less than twenty years ago the average price of a cran of herrings was 

 seldom over 20s., and of sprats about 8s. or 10s. ; now both these rates have 

 about doubled. While affording, perhaps, better results to the fisher- 

 men, these high prices have pressed hardly upon the small retailers and fish- 

 friers, who, it is feared, must have been losers in their endeavours to pro- 

 vide supplies at or near the rates to which their customers were formerly 

 accustomed. But the chief point is that these higher values are the out- 

 ward and visible sign of a new set of conditions in the trade, whose cause 

 and trend are of national importance. 



As compared with some northern fishing communities in Scotland, the 

 fishermen of this district have been slow in acquiring steam and motor 

 boats in place of the sail boats. They have all along been desirous of 

 making the change, especially at Cockenzie, Port Seton, and Fisherrow, 

 but they have not, in many cases, possessed the necessary capital, nor 

 had they the advantage of the outside financial aid which some other 

 communities were fortunate in obtaining at the commencement of the 

 transition a few years ago. At present there are about 70 large sail 

 boats, 10 steam drifters, and 6 motor boats, all of which usually fish 

 solely at the large English centres. Besides these, 12 yawls, principally 

 engaged in Hne fishing at home, were fitted with motors in the course of 

 the year. The large boats are always employed in the herring fishing, 



