of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



179 



APPENDIX L. 



REPORTS HY THE INSPECTORS OF SEA FISHERIES AND 

 DISTRICT FISHERY OFFICERS. 



I. — Inspectors of Sea Fisheries. 



General Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



The results of the fisheries of 1910 were the most successful in the 

 annals of the industry. Landings were exceptionally heavy, and 

 prices of all kinds of fish maintained a high level, so that the earnings 

 of both fishermen and fishworkers were very remunerative; while in 

 addition to those directly concerned in the capture, curing, etc., of the 

 fish, the tiaders of nearly every fishing town on the coast benefited by 

 the season's prosperity. The great majority of those connected with 

 the fishing industry had therefore every reason to be satisfied with the 

 result of the year's work, and practically the only persons who could 

 not congiatulate themselves upon the result of their operations were 

 the herring curers, who, in many instances, found themselves in the 

 unhappy position of having paid more for their fish than the prices 

 subsequent 1}^ realised for the cured article justified. 



The pi incipal feature in the means of capture was the large increase 

 in the number of steam fishing vessels, and also in the number of motor 

 boats. In the former there is an increase of 60, and in the latter of 

 81. AlUiough in the return of boats propelled by sails or oars there is 

 a decrease of 261 and of £29,570 in value, the shortage appears insig- 

 nificant \vhen compared with the increase of £158,568 in the value of 

 steam and motor boats. The increase in steam vessels is most notice- 

 able in the districts of Banff, Buckie, Findhorn, and Wick, and in 

 motor boats on the East Coast, at Eyemouth, and at Campbeltown and 

 Ballantrae on the West Coast. These districts more than doubled the 

 number o( motor vessels as compared with the previous year. Motor 

 boats of all sizes are now being used in every branch of the fishing in- 

 dustry with gratifying success. The fishermen have realised that, 

 apart from overtaking the early markets and obtaining top prices for 

 their goods, a considerable amount of labour is saved in working the 

 craft to and from the fishing grounds. From the results obtained there 

 is every prospect that its success, although not so rapid as it had been 

 in the case of steam power, is assured. 



Notwithstanding that several second-hand steam trawlers were dis- 

 posed of to other' countries, in this class there is an increase of four 

 vessels. 



In the area of netting used in the fisheries there is an increase of close 

 upon 5,000,000 yards, but the length of lines shows a decrease of 

 over 2,000,000. The former was due to the increase in the number 

 of steam vessels which are able to work laro-er drifts, and the de- 

 crease in lines is due to less attention being paid to line fishing than 

 formerly. The development in the means of capture may more readily 



M 



