of the Fiskerif Board for Scotland. 



181 



and if the Scottish curer is to hold the field against all competitors, 

 care must be taken to have reliable goods exported. 



The success of the season was largely due (1) to the mobility of the 

 steam drifter fleet, (2) to an exceptionally good demand, and (3) to re- 

 munerative prices, which encouraged the fishermen to prosecute the 

 fishing with greater energy than they would otherwise have done. 

 With regard to (1), the steam drifter is capable of ranging the North 

 Sea at will, and of locating the herring shoals at a greater distance 

 from shore than the sail boat is able to do, also of landing their catches 

 at any port which is found most convenient. Scores of these vessels 

 shifted about from one port to another with a frequency which was 

 most noticeable. Fifteen years ago it could not have been anticipated 

 that the steam drifter would have played such an important part in 

 the development of the herring fishing industry. If the same rate of 

 progress in steam drifters is maintained during the next decade, the 

 catching power will at least be doubled, and sailing boats will have 

 become almost obsolete. In previous years 30 to 40 miles from port 

 with the sailing boat was considered a great distance to run to the 

 fishing ground. Now the steam drifters in many cases cover from 140 

 to 240 miles — going and returning — and are invariably able to land 

 their catches several hours in advance of the boats propelled by sail, 

 besides securing the best market prices. (2) The high prices main- 

 tained throughout the season were due to the Continental markets 

 being practically clear of the previous year's cured herrings, and to the 

 high price of all kinds of meat. (3) Competition was so keen at most 

 of the ports that fresh herrings were often run up beyond their value, 

 with the result that the fishermen and not the curers benefited. Taken 

 as a whole, the average earnings of the fishermen were good, but un- 

 fortunately the success was unevenly distributed. Steam-drifter crews 

 during the season earned from <£600 to £1500, and for the year at the 

 various fishings on the English and Irish coasts from £2000 to ,£3000. 

 The sail boats' earnings ranged from £300 to £700, while the motor 

 boats occupied a position midway between the steam drifters and sail 

 boats. 



Of the East Coast stations, Peterhead was the most successful port, 

 largely owing to its big fleet of steam vessels ; while at Fraserburgh 

 only moderate catches were landed. Up to two years ago Fraserburgh 

 was the most important station on the coast. From the position of the 

 shoals in the North Sea, the fleet fishing from this port, which con- 

 sisted largely of sailing boats, was often at a disadvantage in reaching 

 the fishing^ grounds owing to the variable weather conditions. Com- 

 pared with the previous year, the landings at Macduff and at several 

 of the other stations on the Moray Firth showed considerable improve- 

 ment. The bulk of the landings were made by vessels visiting their 

 homes for the week-ends to replenish their stores. 



The feature of the season at Wick was the remarkably fine weather 

 and the regular fishing which was landed from start to finish. Only 

 one blank day was experienced during the whole season, which was one 

 of the most successful on record, extending over a period of four 

 months. Stronsay, in Orkney, being situated in close proximity to 

 the fishing grounds, was well patronised by a large fleet of steam 

 drifters. Operations were attended with gratifving results, the land- 

 ings being almost double those of 1909. With improved facilities for 

 the landing of the fish, the development of the port as a fishing centre 

 is practically assured. Although the season at Balta Sound opened 

 earlier than in any previous year, the catches were unremunerative, 

 particularly after May, with the result that the majoritv of the crews 

 working in that direction proceeded to Lerwick. Trials were also 



