of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



197 



unsatisfactory. Operations were commenced about the beginning of 

 January and were continued by a smaller fleet than usual till the first week 

 of April. Throughout the season herrings were very scarce on the fishing 

 grounds in the Firth of Forth. At the close of the season a shoal of 

 herrings was located close inshore between Anstruther and Grail, and, for a 

 few nights, comparatively heavy takes were obtained. As only small boats 

 could be employed, so close was the shoal inshore, very few crews par- 

 ticipated in the success. The catch for the season amounted to 11,364 

 crans, compared with 8115 crans for the corresponding season of the 

 preceding year. Most of the herrings landed were despatched to market in 

 a fresh state. About 600 barrels were cured gutted for exportation. 



The summer herring fishing showed signs of further development. About 

 the middle of June a small fleet commenced operations from Anstruther, and 

 as herrings were obtained from 15 to 40 miles east of the May Island, a 

 regular and successful fishing was carried on for a few weeks. The number 

 of crews employed soon increased, and at the end of July over 14,000 crans 

 had been landed. Unfortunately, during August the fishing was almost a 

 failure, and the season closed about the end of that month with a total 

 catch of 16,020 crans, compared with 8048 crans for the corresponding- 

 season of 1909. Most of the catch was cured gutted for exportation, but 

 as the herrings were of poor quality during the early part of the season, 

 when the greater part of the catch was landed, only a small proportion of 

 the cure was presented for the official brand. The development of the 

 summer herring fishing in this district is seriously hindered by the absence 

 of a deep-water fishing harbour. During the past season the local steam 

 drifters, when fishing ofi'this coast, were often compelled, at certain states of 

 the tide, to proceed to other harbours at a much greater distance from the 

 fishing grounds, where they could enter and discharge their catches. The 

 Anstruther Harbour Authorities have adopted a scheme for deepening and 

 improving the existing harbour, but it remains to be seen if they will 

 be successful in obtaining the necessary financial assistance to enable them 

 to carry out their proposals. 



Great-line fishing received little attention, and, in consequence, the catch 

 of cod, ling,' &c., shows a falling off. Small-line fishing, especially during 

 the latter half of the year, was fairly successful. Small haddocks were very 

 plentiful on the Firth of Forth grounds, and the catch shows a substantial 

 increase. 



The shell fisheries were attended by poor results. Ijobster fishing was 

 regularly prosecuted, and the catch is slightly greater than that of last year. 

 Grabs were less plentiful. For a number of years the quantity of mussels 

 landed has been gradually falling off. 



The steam fishing vessels belonging to this district were employed for 8 

 months, viz., from 1st April to 30th November. During the first two 

 months they were employed either at great-line fishing or at the early 

 summer herring fishing. The results were not satisfactory. During the 

 summer fishing season fishing operations were carried on from Shetland 

 to North Shields. The average gross earnings for that period amounted to 

 £840 per vessel, compared with £949 for the corresponding period of 1909. 

 The autumn herring fishing on the English coast yielded average gross 

 earnings of £547 per vessel, which exceeded the average for the same 

 season of the preceding year by £79. For the eight months during which 

 the vessels were employed the average gross earnings amounted to £1597. 

 compared with £1652 for the same period last year. The average working 

 expenses were slightly less than in 1909, the figures being for 1910, £501, 

 and for 1909, £517. 



A considerable number of crews from this district were employed 

 at herring fishing on the north coast of England during the month 

 of August and September with fair success. During the autumn 111 



