IV 



Tiventy-ninth Annual Report 



This shows a decrease from the previous year of 165 in the number 

 of vessels, and of 272 in their tonnage (no doubt a casual variation), 

 but an increase of £256,470 in value. 



Both the decrease in number and the increase in value are directly 

 due to the increasing introduction of mechanical means of propulsion 

 (steam and motor) into the boats of the herring fleet. This is but the 

 continuation of a tendency on which we have had occasion to remark 

 frequently in previous Eeports. The tendency to concentration 

 continues, indeed shows signs of more rapid development in the 

 future, bringing new problems, and necessitating new adaptations — 

 not the least important of which is local harbour accommodation — to 

 meet the new circumstances. This new need is daily assuming 

 greater proportions. 



During the past year there were 1393 steam vessels and 156 motor 

 vessels engaged in the sea fisheries of Scotland, against 1316 steam 

 and 75 motor vessels in the previous year. 



Of the total of 9724 vessels, 8128, or 83 per cent., were sailing 

 vessels, and the remainder were propelled by steam or by motor 

 engines. In the previous year the proportion was 86 per cent. 



The herring catch of 1910 exceeded that of the previous year by 

 1,145,927' cwts. and £24,568. This is a result only surpassed in 

 1907 and 1908. 



The following Table gives the total results of the Scottish herring 

 fishery since 1898: — 



DIFFERENT FISHERIES. 



1. HERRING Fli^HERY— GENERAL. 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



Average 

 Price per 



Cwt. 



Cwts. 



£ 



1898 

 1899 

 1900 

 1901 

 1902 

 1903 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 

 1907 

 1908 

 1909 

 1910 



4,703,641 

 3,207,078 

 3,520,216 

 4,338,635 

 4,753,944 

 4,279,485 

 5,432,494 

 5,342,777 

 4,979,848 

 6,253,341 

 5,690,114 

 4,541.297 

 5,687,226 



952,402 

 1,143,296 

 1,243,407 

 1,061,034 

 1,360,492 

 1,244,656 

 1,017,541 

 1,343,080 

 1,649,163 

 1,795,650 

 1,151,644 

 1,569,743 

 1,594,308 



m 



6/11 



5/7 



