220 



Appendices to Ticenty-ninth Annual Report 



work numbered from 50 to 100 steam drifters, and from 30 to 60 sail. The 

 principal fishing grounds were from 30 to 50 miles off, in a south-easterly 

 direction, while occasionally good takes were caught from 7 to 10 miles off. 

 Up to the middle of June the fish were more or less immature, but for the 

 remainder of the season the quality generally was good. Although not 

 reaching such a high level as during the previous season, prices were well 

 maintained, the extreme range being from 10s. to 30s., and the average 

 price per cran for the season being 19s. lUd., against 26s. 3d. during the 

 previous season. Steam drifters' earnings ranged from £700 to £1300, and 

 sailers' from £200 to £750. At Holm, Burray, and Kirkwall respectively 

 the landings were all largely in excess of the previous season's, a result 

 which was to a considerable extent due to the congestion frequently experi- 

 enced at Stronsay. The earnings of the district crews ranged from £180 to 

 £550. 



The Orkney Harbour Commissioners have decided to extend th new 

 pier in course of construction at Stronsay by another 100 feet, making the 

 total length 570 feet, towards the cost of which the Fishery Board have 

 given an additional grant of £1000. 



Considerable difficulty has hitherto been experienced by fishermen and 

 fishworkers in obtaining supplies of fresh water at Stronsay, but a scheme 

 for providing a supply at iDOth piers is now being proceeded with, and is 

 expected to be completed before the advent of another season. The Fish 

 Mart erected and opened last season was greatly appreciated by the trade. 

 Negotiations are proceeding for the opening of several additional curing 

 stations in the district, chiefly at Stronsay. 



Practically all the trawled fish landed in the district was for curing 

 purposes, and consisted almost wholly of cod from the Icelandic grounds. 

 There was a slight decrease in the quantity landed compared with the 

 previous year, but prices were higher by some 30s. per ton for green fish. 

 There was a good demand for Faroe wet salted fish, and 26 smacks landed 

 a total of 749 tons, which sold at an average price of £13 10s. per ton, 

 against 263 tons at an average price of £11 5s. per ton landed during the 

 previous year. 



Line fishing is prosecuted by the district fishermen chiefly by means of 

 hand lines. Fairly good results were obtained on the west-side grounds 

 during the summer months, but on the east-side codling and haddock 

 appeared to be scarcer than usual. 



Great-line fishing was prosecuted chiefly from Kirkwall, and attention 

 devoted to the capture of halibut during the spring months. The results 

 were the best obtained for some years, the catch being practically double 

 that of last year. The average price realized for halibut was slightly under 

 40s. per cw^t. 



During the first two months of the year a number of ^Nloray Firth crews 

 operated on the Orkney grounds, and frequently landed their smaller catches 

 of herrings at Kirkwall instead of Wick, owing to the closer proximity of 

 the former to the fishing grounds. In all, 962 crans were landed, which 

 realized an average price of fully 20s. per cran. The herrings were 

 practically all kippered by local curers. 



The value of the shell fisheries shows a decrease of £1297, due to the 

 decline in the lobster catch. The only period of the year in which results 

 were successful was daring the month of May, but thereafter lobsters 

 appeared to be scarcer than usual. By the passing of the Oyster and 

 Mussel (Bay of Firth) Fishery Order Act, 1910, it is anticipated that this 

 area, which has for many years been of comparatively little value, will, 

 under judicious treatment, again become productive in the course of a few 

 years. 



During part of November and December dense shoals of sillocks were 

 again found in Kirkwall and Stromness harbours, particularly the latter. 



