of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 189 



loss of fishing gear which is unavoidable in the fishing industry, no serious 

 losses took place. 



None of the local harbour extension schemes which were referred to in 

 the preceding year's report has as yet been commenced. 



James Ingram, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Leith, 2l6'^ January 1914. 



Anstruther District. 



The year 1913, so far as the fisheries which are carried on within the 

 hmits of this district were concerned, proved only moderately successful. 

 The catch, compared with that of the preceding year, shows a considerable 

 falhng of!, but, owing to the enhanced prices which were reahsed during 

 the past year, there was only a sfight decrease in the total value. The 

 falhng off in the catch was chiefly referable to herrings, which alone showed 

 a shortage of 18,677 cwts. Prices of all kinds of fish showed a general 

 increase. The average price (exclusive of shell-fish) was 9s. 3d. per cwt. 

 compared with 7s. 7d. in 1912. 



The most noticeable feature in the means of capture returns is the com- 

 paratively large increase in the number of motor boats. Hitherto the 

 motor-driven craft have not found much favour in this district, but at last 

 the majority of the fishermen seem to be convinced of their utihty. No 

 less than 17 motor engines were installed in sailing boats during the past 

 year — 2 in boats of 45 feet keel and upwards ; 9 in boats of from 30 to 45 

 feet keel ; and 6 in boats of from 18 to 30 feet keel. The fitting of motors 

 in boats of from 30 to 45 feet keel is a new experiment in this district. 

 These boats are intended for the prosecution of the winter inshore herring 

 and great-line fishings. The motors were installed towards the close of the 

 year, and the experiment will be watched with great interest by the fisher- 

 men. The small motor boats were almost exclusively used for small-hne 

 fishing. Their operations wercattended by a gratifying amount of success, 

 The motors installed were of the following types : — " Gardner," " Kelvin," 

 " Grei," and " Bohnders." 



Four steam drifters were added to the fleet during the year, and negotia- 

 tions are now completed for the purchase of 4 more vessels of this class. 



The decline in the number of saifing boats, which has been going on for 

 the past few years, continues, 25 first-class boats being removed from the 

 registry. Ten years ago 345 first-class saihng boats were owned in this 

 district. This year the number is reduced to 209. In the same period 

 the number of steam drifters and large motor boats has increased from 7 to 

 68, and the total value of all fishing vessels has gone up from £110,229 to 

 £177,415. 



The winter herring fishing — the most important fishing in this district — 

 was commenced as usual about the second week of January. Herrings, 

 during the early part of the season, were scarce ; indeed, for a time it looked 

 as if the fishing was to be an entire failure. During February and March 

 the results showed a slight improvement, but never during the season were 

 adequate supplies obtained. Most of the catch was secured on the inshore 

 grounds by means of anchored nets. The total catch for the season 

 amounted to 8927 crans, compared with 16,762 crans for the season of 

 1912. The demand for fresh herrings continued exceptionally good 

 throughout the season, and satisfactory prices were obtained. The average 

 price per cran was 27s. 5d., against 22s. 4d. in the corresponding season of 



