of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



221 



these were well attended by teachers from all parts of the district who are 

 thus better qualified to impart instruction to their own pupils. 



The fishery barometers are in good order, and generally well attended to. 



Satisfactory progress has been made during the year with the new 

 harbour works at Lerwick. 



R. DUTHIE. 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Lerwick, 7th January 1914. 



III. WEST COAST. 

 Stornaway District. 



The quantity of fish landed in this district in 1913 was 606,212 cwts., 

 valued at £192,758, against 367,698 cwts., valued at £130,540, in 1912. 

 The increase was chiefly attributable to herrings, of which 524,250 cwts., 

 valued at £170,766, were landed. The line fishing returns show a marked 

 decrease, local fishermen having been less successful than in former 

 seasons, while fewer steam liners from other districts landed fish. The 

 quantity brought in by trawlers totalled only 58 cwts. 



Local herring boats fished in home waters during the year with good 

 success, but none went to the English or Irish fishings. Owing to a strike 

 of hired men, who demanded payment on the gross earnings of boats, 

 only 800 were employed during 1913, as against 1600 in 1912. The re- 

 mainder had to find employment elsewhere on shore. 



Classes for the instruction of fishermen and hired men in navigation 

 were not conducted. Continuation classes were, however, and if fishermen 

 had so desired they could have been enrolled, and instructed in that sub- 

 ject. None, however, attended the classes for that purpose. 



Two thousand four hundred women workers went to Shetland and the 

 East Coast, in May and June, returning towards the end of September. 

 Shortly thereafter, 1613 proceeded to England to take part in the curing 

 of herring at Lowestoft and Yarmouth, where they earned, and brought 

 home to the Island, a considerable sum of money. 



Five first, 19 second, and 3 third-class boats were removed from the 

 register during the year. These were replaced by 5 first, 9 second , and 3 

 third-class boats, of which 2, acquired from other districts, had motor- 

 power. 



Good success attended the prosecution of the herring fishing during the 

 winter and spring. The catch was the best, both as regards quantity 

 and quality, which has been obtained since the inception of a winter 

 fishing in this district. One hundred and thirty-five steam drifters, 2 

 motor, and 21 sailers were at one time employed. The principal fishing 

 grounds were Broadbay, off Tolsta, and off Ceilarhead. 39,462 crans were 

 landed in January, 48,088 crans in February, and 16,365 in March, or a 

 total of 103,915 crans, valued at £87,876. Many boats grossed from £700 

 to £900, and the average for 135 vessels was £600. The average price per 

 cran was 16s. lOd. The few motor -boats and sailers engaged were less 

 successful, owing partly to the boisterous weather which prevailed during 

 the greater part of the season. 



The early summer and autumn herring fishings were disappointing 

 in comparison with the corresponding seasons in 1912. The fishing was 

 opened during the week ended 17th May by a fleet of 98 steam and 13 

 sailing boats, which landed 2573 crans. During the following two weeks, 

 200 steamers and 60 sailers were engaged. Light catches were the rule, 



