of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



215 



Orkney District. 



The most important feature of tlie district fisheries during the year 

 1913 was the decreased catch during the early summer herring fishing. 

 Comparing the returns of all fish landed with those of 1912, there is a de- 

 crease of 230,236 cwts. in the quantity and £38,791 in the value, for which 

 herrings are chiefly responsible, but though these figures are large in them- 

 selves, they lose much of their importance when it is remembered that 

 1912 was a record year, showing results far above any previous year. The 

 figures for 1913 were 34,558 cwts. less, but £63,580 more than the average 

 for the preceding five years. 



The returns of the other branches of the industry, with the exception 

 of shell-fish, were about the average, and show little variation from those 

 of the preceding year. The shell-fish returns exhibit an increase in value 

 of £1936 when compared with the figures for 1912. 



In the means of capture returns there is very little change ; there is a de- 

 crease in the number of boats and a slight increase in the tonnage. This 

 change was caused by old third-class boats being laid aside or broken up as 

 unsea worthy and being replaced by larger ones. The only change worthy of 

 note is the fitting-up of several line and lobster boats with motor engines 

 for auxihary propulsion. One boat was specially built and fitted with a 

 " Gardner " 8 h.p. motor engine and reversing propeller for the " Bay of 

 Firth Oyster Company." No movement has yet been made by any of 

 the district fishermen to have motors installed into their herring fishing 

 boats, although in this district, where the fishing grounds are only a 

 moderate distance from land, and where the fishermen usually have to 

 contend with strong tides in the different sounds, motor boats would 

 undoubtedly be of great service. 



The summer herring fishing which was prosecuted from Stronsay, 

 Sanday, Kirkwall, Holm, Burray, and Stromness will long be remembered 

 by all connected with the industry as one of the most unique on record. 

 To most of the curers it will be remembered as one of the most trying 

 seasons they ever experienced. Fishermen also found it harassing in 

 many ways, but to the majority of them it turned out one of the most 

 successful they have ever had. Owing to the stranger fishermen being 

 continually moving about and landing their takes at the different ports, 

 it is difficult to estimate their earnings, but quite a number of drifters 

 fishing from Stronsay earned from £1400 to £1800, and the average would 

 be £1200. The local fishermen operating with sail boats also did very 

 well. Their earnings ranged from £300 to £1000 per boat, while most of 

 them earned close on £500. 



The fishing was opened during the week ending 17th May by a few 

 crews operating from Stromness and Stronsay, and was carried on till the 

 5th of September by a fleet which varied throughout the season from 50 

 to 250 boats. The average number of boats operating during the season 

 was 145, as compared with 198 in 1912. 



Stromness was the first place at which herrings were landed, a steam- 

 drifter arriving there on 14th May with a shot of 29 crans of fairly good 

 quality. A few crews who operated from this port met with fair success 

 for a week or two. Only two curers opened stations, several others who 

 had intended doing so refraining on account of the agitation among the 

 hired fishermen. Had there been more curers on the ground and a decent 

 fleet at work, no doubt Stromness would have made a good bid to regain 

 the place it held in former years as an important early herring fishing 

 centre. For the few boats at work the season closed early in June with a 

 total of 558 crans compared with 80 crans landed in 1912. 



