of the Fisher}/ Board for Scotland. 



193 



industry. Efforts are being made to provide more suitable accommodation 

 for wintering fishing craft in the neighbourhood of the slip. Four large 

 steam drifters were built at Inverness, and at the close of the year three 

 others were almost completed. 



Inverness, \Oth January 1911. Wm, Jeffrey, 



Assistant Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



II. — East Coast. 

 Eyemonth, District. 



The district returns for 1910 .show an increase of 17,424 cwts. in quantity, 

 but a decrease in value of £4390, as compared with those of the preceding 

 year. Although the earnings at the English autumn fishing were largely 

 discounted by losses of fishing material, the season may be considered as 

 having been fairly satisfactory to fishermen, while to curers the year's 

 results were in most cases unremunerative. 



In the English section of the district the means of capture remain 

 practically the .same as in the previous year. One boat — the first — was 

 fitted up with a motor engine. In the Scottish section two steam drifters 

 were added to the fleet, while two sail boats were lost at sea, and other four 

 removed from the register. There was an increase in the value of boats of 

 c£l 1,286, mainly due to the addition of 11 motor boats, making a fleet of 22, 

 of which 17 are fitted with the Gardner engine. Other three orders for motor 

 engines have been given. There was little difference in the extent of fishing 

 material.' Further harbour improvements are to be carried out at Blyth, and 

 a small landing pier is proposed for Berwick. Better harbour accommodation 

 is required at Eyemouth, where over £66,000 is invested in boats and 

 fishing material, 



Aparc from the large increase in the motor fleet, the only outstanding 

 features were the early commencement of the summer herring fishing, and 

 the early curing for exportation. 



The winter herring fishing was a partial failure, the average earnings of 

 the fishermen for 10 weeks' fishing being only <£10 per man. 



The tendency of late years has been towards making an early beginning at 

 the summer herring fishing, and last year was no exception. The season 

 was opened in May at North Shields and Eyemouth. The catch for the 

 month at North Shields — which has been an early station for a number of 

 years — was about 12,000 crans, and at Eyemouth over 3000 crans. Although 

 an early start was made at the other stations, the quantities landed were 

 small, and it was the beginning of July before the season proper could be 

 said to have begun. The season throughout was uneventful ; fine weather 

 favoured the prosecution of the fishing, and, with the exception of one day's 

 fishing at Blyth and North Shields, the landings were light and regular, so 

 that curers easily overtook each day's requirements. There was a marked 

 absence of heavy shots, very few being over 100 crans. Curing for the 

 Continent began in May at Eyemouth, and became fairly general during June, 

 some 10,000 barrels being in cure by the end of that month. Five years 

 ago there was practically none cured before the end of July. A few 

 hundred crans were landed at Blyth and North Shields during September 

 but otherwise the fishing closed in August. The total catch as from 1st 

 May was 256,504 crans, as compared with 256,570 crans in 1909, A-'hilethe 

 average price per cran was 17s. lOd., as against 21s. 5d. The principal 

 fishing grounds were from 10 to 20 miles ofi* the Farne Islands and 50 miles 

 S.E. of Blyth. The herrings from the latter grounds were of splendid 

 quality, but otherwise they were generally inferior. 



