of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



221 



111 all, nearly 700 tons were landed, and, although the average price was only 

 at the rate of Is. 4d. per cran, a number of the Stromness fishermen earned 

 from <£3 to =£4 per man in the course of a week. A novel feature was the 

 despatch of 240 tons of these fish by steamer to Aberdeen, where they were 

 utilised in the manufacture of fish meal. The remainder was used locally for 

 manure purposes. 



In May a fisherman belonging to Portgordon was drowned in Stronsay 

 harbour, having accidentally slipped overboard. A local line fishing boat 

 was run down and sunk by a steamer in Kirkwall Bay, but the occupants of 

 the boat were fortunately rescued. Considerable damage to lobster creels 

 was sustained through stormy weather, but otherwise the loss of fishing gear 

 was comparatively small. 



Fishery Office, William Sinclair, 



Kirkwall, Qtli January 1911. Fishery Officer. 



Shetland District. 



The returns for 1910 show an increase in quantity of 348,046 cwts., but a 

 decrease in value of =£43,183, as compared with the figures for 1909. 



Herrings accounted for between 96 and 97 per cent, of the total quantity 

 and value. Fully a fifth of the year's catch of herrings was landed before 

 the end of May, while the fish were still immature. The lower prices 

 realised for these early herrings tended to reduce the year's average price per 

 cran, which was scarcely 20s. 6d., as compared with 28s. 5d. in 1909. 



In the means of capture a decrease in the number and tonnage of boats 

 has again to be recorded. This decrease is confined to the herring fleet. 

 After the close of the fishing about a dozen of these boats were sold to 

 Norway, where they are to be employed in mackerel fishing. There was an 

 increase during the year in the number of second-class boats employed at 

 the haddock fishing. Mention was made in last year's report of two motor 

 skiffs that were fitted out at Scalloway for the haddock fishing. These 

 proved so satisfactory that other crews invested in motors, and by the end 

 of the year six of these boats were working from Scalloway and Burra Isle, 

 and one from Lerwick. 



In February and March a small fleet of steam drifters prosecuted the 

 herring fishing with marked success, landing a total of nearly 6000 crans, 

 which constitutes a record for the district for the winter fishing. The 

 average price of these herrings was about 13s. 6d. per cran, and the bulk of 

 the catch was cured for the Continental markets. The summer herring 

 fishing was commenced early in May at most of the stations, both on the 

 East and West Coasts of Shetland. Along the North- West Coast and 

 in St. Magnus Bay the fishing was a complete failure in May, and although 

 after the bulk of the boats had left further trials were repeatedly made in 

 June and J uly, no herrings were got. 



The fishing was commenced at Baltasound about the middle of May, the 

 fishermen, as formerly, generally working under engagements for four weeks, 

 with bounties ranging from £5 to X8 for sail boats, and up to £20 for 

 steam drifters. Fewer curing stations were, however, open, and the fleet of 

 boats was smaller than in 1909. The fishing opened well, the catch for the 

 last week of May being over 10,000 crans; but thereafter herrings turned 

 gradually scarcer, and as soon as their engagements expired most of the 

 crews left for other ports. Although a small fleet of steam drifters and 

 local sail boats continued fishing till well into August, there was no subse- 

 quent improvement. Herrings continued scarce on the Balta grounds, and 

 fishermen had to go so far to the south and south-east to get them, that they 

 found it convenient to land their fish elsewhere. 



