202 



Appendices to Ticenty-ninth Annual Report 



In the means of capture there was an increase of 6 trawlers, notwithstand- 

 ing that a number of the largest and most up-to-date vessels were sold to 

 Portuguese owners, and that five vessels were wrecked during the year. These 

 vessels were replaced by new vessels and by second-hand ones purchased 

 from English ports. Steam liners and drifters show little change, although 

 the extent and value of fishing gear have increased. There was a decrease 

 in the number of sailing boats, extent of fishing gear, and fishermen employed. 

 Some of the fishermen have joined steam vessels, while those at the 

 outlaying stations have taken mostly to labouring work. 



The important trawling industry was conducted with exceptional success 

 from a monetary standpoint, showing an increase in the value of fish landed 

 of ^127,055 as compared with 1909. The long-voyage vessels made re- 

 markably good earnings in home waters, and the best-fished vessel totalled 

 ^6944 for the year, notwithstanding the rough weather and scarcity of fish 

 at times experienced on certain grounds, especially on the north-western 

 grounds, where the chief supply of prime haddocks has been obtained during 

 the past 15 years. The smaller trawlers, fishing on the nearer grounds, were 

 not quite so fortunate, as their catches consisted largely of haddocks of the 

 smallest size, and there is no denying the fact that these grounds show 

 depletion to an alarming extent. It is very remarkable that the catch of 

 haddocks shows the large decrease of 139,940 cwts., while the value has 

 increased by XI 5,890 as compared with the figures for 1909. Plaice like- 

 wise exhibit a notable decrease of 4005 cwts. It is very diflicult to give 

 any authentic reason for this shortage, but over-trawling appears to be telling 

 on the supply of both haddocks and plaice. The most outstanding feature 

 of the year was that no glut of fish occurred, the demand on all occasions 

 being fully equal to the supplies landed, with the result that prices main- 

 tained a very high level, and no vessels were laid up during the summer in 

 consequence of bad markets, which formerly was the case. I^o less than 40 

 vessels were laid up for fully a month during 1909. Another feature was 

 the immense quantity of very small haddocks landed during the autumn 

 months, which were largely purchased by manure factories at from Is. 2d. to 

 Is. 9d. per cwt. for manufacture into " fish food " for cattle, now in great 

 demand on the Continent. The quantity of small plaice landed was not 

 nearly so great as in previous years. There were 239 vessels regularly 

 employed at trawling, besides numerous arrivals of strangers and foreign 

 vessels, as against 236 vessels in the preceding year. The most successful 

 months were March, April, and May. The average catch per arrival was 

 150*9 cwts. and value 10s. 6|d. per cwt., compared with 148'7 cwts. and 

 9s. 4d. per cwt. in 1909. The quantity of fish landed by foreign tiawlers 

 greatly exceeded that of any previous year, amounting, as it did, to 219,425 

 cwts., valued at X63,196, as contrasted with 121,175 cwts., valued at 

 £24,941, in 1909. Had it not been for the heavy landings made by foreign 

 trawlers, the supply of fish available for cured-dried purposes would have 

 been infinitesimal, and many of the yards would have been closed for want 

 of supplies. The keen demand by curing firms was undoubtedly the chief 

 reason of the high prices ruling for fish. If foreign trawlers were to desert 

 the port it would be a bad outlook. 



The Faioe fishing was not attended with any degree of success, owing 

 chiefly to stormy weather and the difficulty even in fine weather of locating 

 fish. The returns shows a decrease of 4853 cwts. from those of the previous 

 year. 



Fishing at Iceland was commenced early in the year by German trawlers 

 with encouraging success, and continued until the close of the year. Only 

 ten local vessels fished in Icelandic waters during April, May, and June, 

 during which period they met with moderate success, but operations were 

 discontinued, as the venture was not paying owing to the heavy expenses of 

 the long voyages. It would appear that German trawlers can fish Icelandic 



