190 



Appmdices to Tv:enty-ninth Anmial Report 



Sound. Thereafter Stronsay, having a commodious and accessible harbour 

 attracted fishermen and curers from the East Coast, and has now become the 

 principal lierring-fishing station for these islands. "With the assistance of 

 the Fishery Board, suitable landing accommodation and a liberal supply of 

 fresh water are being provided to meet the requirements of the industry. 

 Hitherto, herring fishing off the south-east or North Sea side of Orkney has 

 not fulled, whereas a successful fishing carried on for several years from 

 Stromness, on the Atlantic side of the islands, failed completely. 

 A commencemenc was made at herring fishing from Stronsay much 

 earlier than usual. Throughout the season herrings were in 

 abundance within a reasonable distance of the land, which enabled 

 the fleet to get frequently to sea. The catch for June and July 

 alone was 62,834 crans, and for the season was the highest on record. 

 Several of the local crews fished well, and earned from .£300 to ^500 each ; 

 yet the number of these is steadily decreasing, and to all appearances this 

 branch of the industry will soon be wholly conducted by fishermen from 

 other districts. The white and shell fisheries of the district, conducted by 

 local fishermen, were carried on with ordinary success. The sm.all sail boats 

 employed in these fislieries are rapidly being displaced by small motor boats. 

 These enable the fishermen to get more frequently to sea in moderate 

 weather, but as yet the craft in which the motor is placed are too small to 

 cope with rough weather or to benefit the fishermen to any great extent. 



In Shetland the white fisheries were prosecuted with encouraging success. 

 As in the previous year, haddocks were exceedingly abundant in Shetland 

 waters, and but for unfavourable weather conditions which prevailed during 

 the last two months of the year, the catch of these would have been very 

 heavy. As evidence of the abundance of haddocks in these waters, it may 

 be mentioned that a fleet of 15 small boats fishing from Scalloway landed in 

 three days a total of 670 cwts. The fishermen generally were well equipped 

 for the prosecution of this branch of the industry. For the first time a 

 number of powerful motor boats were employed. These were specially built 

 and engined to cope with rough weather, and the success obtained was so 

 satisfactory that it is confidently expected there wuU be an increase in this 

 class of craft by another year. As in the preceding year, a large fleet of 

 steam and sail craft congregated at Lerwick for the prosecution of the 

 herring fishery. Extensive preparations were made by curers to deal with 

 the catch. Coal merchants and others were well prepared to meet the 

 requirements of the fleet and workers on shore. The fleet fishing from 

 Baltasound and the west-side stations was smaller than usual. At the 

 former place the fishing was only moderately successful, and on the west 

 side it was again a complete failure. The bulk of the herrings recorded was 

 therefore landed at Lerwick. From the commencement of the season good 

 takes were landed daily, and for the month of May the catch for the district 

 was 98.000 crans, as compared with 9100 crans for May 1909. Over 

 182,000 crans were landed in June, and 108.000 crans in July. By the middle 

 of August the fishing had become light and partial, and closed much earlier 

 than usual. Including 6000 crans caught during the winter months, the 

 catch for the year shows an increase of 103,150 crans as compared with the 

 returns for 1909. 



The line fisheries of Stornoway district were prosecuted with improved 

 success, whereas the herring fishing was less productive than in the preced- 

 ing year. Several kinds of white fish, notably cod, ling, eel, and skate, 

 appear to be plentiful off certain parts of the district. Situated as the 

 island is at such a great distance from the Souther:^ markets, only a small 

 portion of the catch landed at Stornoway can be despatched in a fresh con- 

 dition. Haddocks are also plentiful in the neighbourhood of Stornoway, 

 but until a preserving factory is established, so that haddocks, etc., can be 

 put up in tins, there is not much prospect of a further development in this 



