192 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



per cran was 31s. 5d., as compared with 23s. 3d. in 1912. Very few boats 

 belonging to other districts landed their catches at any creeks in this 

 district, owing to the non-success of the fishing oi! this coast. The total 

 catch for the year was only 3668 crans, as contrasted with 8242 crans, and 

 16,980 crans for the years 1912 and 1911 respectively. The average gross 

 earnings of the steam drifters at the Scottish fishing were £773, motors 

 £210, and sailers £146. To curers, fishermen, and all others connected with 

 the trade the failure of the home herring fishing was very unfortunate, and 

 unless better results are obtained in the near future, the succession of 

 barren years is bound to have a deterrent effect on the general prosperity 

 of the district fisheries. 



While the quantity of sprats caught in the Tay exceeds the catch of the 

 previous year (which was a failure) by 638 crans, the season cannot be termed 

 as other than a failure. The sprats, which were a^l caught in January 

 and December, were extremely small, and consequently fishermen had on 

 many occasions much difficulty in disposing of their catches, which sold 

 at an average price of 6s. a cran. 



Small-line fishing, which forms an important branch of the district 

 fisheries, was prosecuted with poor success. Stormy weather during the 

 early and latter parts of the year retarded its regular prosecution, and this 

 fact, combined with the great scarcity of haddocks, was mainly responsible 

 for its non-success. The quantity of haddocks landed by line boats was 

 7018 cwts., while the average annual catch of line-caught haddocks during 

 the ten years previous to the year under review was 14,604 cwts. But for 

 the number of motor craft employed — 44 — the catch would have un- 

 doubtedly been the smallest in the annals of this fishing. These useful 

 boats were a gratifying success at small-hne fishing, particularly so when 

 a comparison is made between their doings and those of the saihng skifis 

 of a similar size, over which they in every respect easily demonstrated 

 their superiority. The catches of the motor skiffs were usually double 

 those of the sailers. 



Trawhng operations were again carried on chiefly from Dundee, by 

 the 12 local trawlers. The favourite fishing grounds were those lying 

 from 5 to 100 miles S.E. and E.N.E. of the Bell Kock, and 20 to 50 miles 

 E.N.E. from Rattray and Kinnaird Heads. Compared with the catch of 

 1912 there was a shortage last year of 841 cwts., and an increase in value 

 of £4952. The average annual quantity of trawled haddocks landed in the 

 district during the ten years previous to 1913 was 45,901 cwts., while last 

 year's catch of these fish was only 24,363 cwts. As a result of the continued 

 increase in the price of coals and all other commodities necessary for the 

 equipment of trawlers the financial results — notwithstanding the higher 

 prices realised for fish — were not considered lucrative. The sum earned 

 by the most successful trawler last year was £4100, and £127 represented 

 the value of the highest individual shot. The average catch per arrival 

 was 53-53 cwts., and the value £39, as against 51*50 c\vts. and £31 a trip 

 respectively in the previous year. 



The shell-fish returns are, with the exception of those pertaining to 

 crabs, less than those of the preceding year. Crab fishing proves to 

 be a remunerative and easy occupation for a number of crews, and it is 

 likely to receive more attention during the ensuing season. 



Fewer boats fitted out for the spring great-hne fishing, and those which 

 did pursue it were unsuccessful. 



Fifty-two boats proceeded to the autumn herring fishing at the north 

 of England ports, but the voyage there was not profitable, the average 

 gross earnings of the drifters being about £149, motors £134, and sailers 

 (which were longest there) £149 each. 



The crews who went to Yarmouth and Lowestoft, however, had a 



