of the Fisher t/ Board for Scotland. 



203 



waters when the local vessels are obliged to give it up as a losing concern. 

 The catch from these waters shows an increase of 111,369 cwts. in quantity 

 and ^39,121 in value when compared with the preceding year's figures. 



A number of trawlers were, as usual, fitted out for the herring fishing off 

 Barrahead, but the venture turned out a complete failure. This was 

 attributed to the pollution of the fishing ground last season by the saithe 

 thrown overboard. The practice is greatly to be deprecated, and, it is to be 

 hoped, will be discouraged in future by all skippers. Steam line fishing was 

 carried on with highly satisfactory results, and the catch landed exceeded any 

 former year's record, showing an increase of 65,537 cwts. in quantity and 

 ^41,251 in value over the figures for 1909. The vessels fishing for halibut 

 at Rockall and off" the west coast of Ireland were the most successful, the 

 best-fished vessel earning £4820. The vessels employed entirely at line 

 fishing did much better than those engaged partly at line fishing and partly 

 at herring fishing. The liners fishing on the nearer grounds had also a fair 

 season, and lining will probably receive more attention in future in conse- 

 quence of the high earnings made by most vessels. The average price 

 realised for fish was lis. Id. per cwt., against 10s. 7|d. per cwt. in 1909. 

 No sailing boats were employed at great-line fishing, and the few fish landed 

 were by stranger crews. Cod-net fishing was tried for the first time by five 

 steam drifters, but the venture did not pay, and some of the crews are offer- 

 ing their gear for sale. The small-line fishing is gradually becoming of little 

 importance as an industry, and for a long period during 1910 nothing but 

 very small haddocks were caugbt, which were of little value. Fair catches of 

 plaice were for a time landed, but altogether the fishermen earned a poor 

 livelihood. 



The summer herring fishing started early in May, and up to the end of 

 June was fairly successful, but towards the end of July herrings became 

 scarce, and the boats began to move south to Blyth and Shields, so that by 

 the first week in August the fleet of boats was greatly diminished, and very 

 little was done afterwards. Most of the curers also went south with their 

 coopers and women gutters. Although the catch was slightly greater than 

 in 1909, the season proved unremunerative to curers owing to the high prices 

 paid for the " green " fish. The season again favoured the fishermen, the 

 earnings of steam drifters ranging from £530 to =£1200, with an average of 

 about £720, and of sailing-boats from £110 to £280, with an average of 

 £190. The bulk of the herrings landed by sailing boats were of late 

 delivery, owing to the great distance of the fishing grounds from shore. The 

 principal ground extended from 70 to 100 miles S.E. from Aberdeen, and 

 the scarcity of herrings on the inshore grounds was very marked. The 

 herrings were generally of poor quality, and consisted mostly of Matties. 

 The average price realised was 20s. 6d. per cran, against 23s. in 1909. Ever 

 since the introduction of the float-net system by fishermen, the quantity of 

 herrings landed containing milt or roe has been gradually decreasing, and 

 with calm westher only feeding herrings are usually caught by this method. 

 Fishermen frequently reported Dutch vessels hauling heavy catches of prime 

 herrings with long buoy ropes, when the home vessels alongside them were 

 only hauling a few crans of poor quality ; but fishermen appear to be 

 unwilling to work the Dutch system in calm weather, on account of the 

 heavy labour entailed in hauling nets. 



In regard to shell-fisheries, only a few crabs are landed and an occasional 

 lobster, which are all disposed of by the fishermen's wives in Aberdeen and 

 the surrounding district. The quantity of shell-fish landed by trawlers was 

 slightly greater, owing to the encouragement given by one of the Manure 

 Companies, who purchased shell-fish of any kind for manufacture into poultry 

 food ; but trawl-owners put a stop to the business, considering it detrimental 

 to the interests of the fishing industry by taking away the natural food of the 

 fishes. 



