of the FiHkery Board Jor ^Scotland. 



185 



The total quantity of flat fish landed was 210,784 cwts., valued at 

 £310,475, being a decrease of 750 cwts. in quantity, but an increase in 

 value of £16,890. Turbot, halibut, and lemon soles all show increases, 

 while plaice, flounder, and brill show decreases. 



In the quantity of fish brought in from Icelandic waters and landed 

 by foreign trawlers there was an increase of 111,369 cwts. in quantity 

 and £39,121 in value as compared with the previous year. Had it not 

 been for the heavy catches brought in by these vessels, the supply for 

 cured-dried purposes would have been short of the demand. The keen 

 competition and the high prices ruling was a great inducement to these 

 vessels to patronise the port. Only ten local vessels tried the Icelandic 

 waters, and, as the venture was not a success, the voyages were dis- 

 continued. Apparently the German trawlers are able to work the 

 fishing to better advantage than the Scottish. 



The line fishing industry shows a slight improvement. In the total 

 quantity landed there is an increase of 16,491 cwts. in quantity and 

 £23,668 in value as compared with the previous year. Considerably 

 more attention is being given to steam lining than formerly, and the 

 increase is almost entirely due to the landings of steam liners, who were 

 encouraged to engage in this branch of the industry by the remunera- 

 tive prices obtained. Good line fish, well handled, generally command 

 the highest market prices. The best catches were obtained on the 

 West Coast between Barra Head ami St. Kilda. Operations were 

 also prosecuted as far as the Porcupine Bank on the West Coast of Ire- 

 land. 



Owing to the scarcity of fish on the inshore grounds on both the East 

 and West Coasts, small line fishing received little attention. At 

 many parts of the coast it is difficult for the fishermen to derive a bare 

 means of subsistence, and consequently less time and attention is de- 

 voted to small line fishing than formerly. On the other hand, the 

 introduction of the motor boat in the Shetland district has given a 

 great impetus to small line fishing on that coast. The employment of 

 these boats at haddock fishing had proved so satisfactory that six were 

 working from Scalloway and Burray Isle, and one from Lerwick, before 

 the close of the year. 



The quantity of white fish caught by nets on the coiist of Scotland 

 was 115,279 cwts., valued at £38,792. At several places on the coast cod 

 net fishing has superseded great line fishing, particularly in the Moray 

 Firth districts The same method of fishing is being prosecuted — although 

 not on so large a scale as in the Moray Firth — at vaiious parts of the 

 coast, particularly where the waters are adapted foi- this method of fishing, 

 more keenly than formerly. 



The total catch of mackerel landed on the coast of Scotland was 

 43,831 cwts., valued at £10,965, as compared with 31,367 cwts. and 

 £9425 in 1909. There were landed on the East Coast 9252 cwts., in 

 Orkney and Shetland 6360 cwts., and on the West Coast 28,199 cwts. 

 The average price per cwt. on the East Coast was 6s. lid., in Orkney 

 and Shetland 4.s. Id., and on the West Coast 4s. 7d. Except in Loch 

 Carron and Skye district, no regular attempt was made at this fishing. 

 In the district referred to, the fishing opened in August and con- 

 tinued up to the end of October, a fleet of 35 boats prosecuting it with 

 fairly satisfactory results. The best catches were obtained in the 

 waters between Raasay and the mainland. Prices throughout the 

 season fluctuated from 6s. to 44s. per cran. Notwithstanding that 

 there were fewer boats employed than usual, the season's catch showed 

 an increase of several thousand cwts. over that of the preceding year. 

 At Stornoway mackerel of fair quality was landed in January and 

 February, and again in May and August. In the early part of the 



