xviii 



Thirty-third Annual Report 



Wliether justified or not, the conviction has been growing in fishery 

 circles that in consequence of the ever-increasing intensity of fishing 

 operations in that area, the grounds are being gradually impoverished. 

 It is, of coui-se, of vital importance that the stock of fish should be 

 conserved, and various measures have been advocated from time to 

 time with that object in view — among others, the compulsory closing 

 of sections of the North Sea, and if there is any virtue in this measure 

 there should be a marked increase in the productivity of the grounds 

 when they are again opened to fishing. It is certain that, in normal 

 circumstances, it could have been put into force, if at all, only after 

 protracted negotiations between the various countries interested, 

 but the war has furnished a unique opportunity of putting it to the 

 test, and its effect will be watched both by ichthyologists and practical 

 fishermen with the keenest interest. 



As stated in the introduction to this Report, the total quantity of 

 fish landed in Scotland in 1914 (exclusive of shell-fish) was 7,440,321 

 cwts., valued at £3,143,507, these figures representing a decrease in 

 quantity of 388,029 cwts., and in value of £781,853, as compared with 

 the preceding year's totals. For the decrease in quantity, demersal 

 fish were mainly responsible, their share of the deficiency amounting 

 to 89 per cent., but the reverse was the case as regards the decrease 

 in value, 94 per cent, of which was referable to pelagic fish. Towards 

 the aggregate catch, herrings and other pelagic fish contributed 60 per 

 cent., and demersal fish 40 per cent., as compared with 58 per cent, 

 and 42 per cent, respectively in 1913 ; and of the demersal fish 74 per 

 cent, was taken by trawlers, and 26 per cent, by lines and nets, as 

 compared with 77 per cent, and 23 per cent, in the preceding year. 

 Of the total value, 43 per cent, was referable to pelagic fi^h and 57 per 

 cent, to demersal fish, as against 54 per cent, and 46 per cent, in 1913. 

 The average price per cwt. realised was 8s. 5d., as compared with 10s. 

 in 1913, and 8s. 4d. in 1912, the decline from the standard of 1913 

 being due to a fall in the average price of herrings of about 35 per 

 cent. The shell-fish landed realised £65,029, as compared with £72,357 

 • in the preceding year, bringing the grand total value of all kinds of 

 fish up to £3,208>36, or neai4y 20 per cent, less than in 1913. It 

 must be remembered, however, that the value of the fisheries in that 

 year was by far the highest ever recorded, and if, excluding that 

 exceptional year, the comparison is made with the average for the 

 ten years 1903-1912, it is found that the figm'es for 1914 exceed it 

 by nearly 12 per cent. 



II. Pelagic Fish taken by Netts and Trawl. 



(a) HERRINGS. 



When the history of the Scottish herring fishery comes to be 

 written, the year 19i4 will be found linked with 1884 and 1885, and 

 possibly 1907, as one of the black years of the industry. In the 

 earlier years, however, the curers alone were the sufferers, whereas 

 in the year under review the workers in every branch of the industry 

 — fishermen, curers, and shore-workers alike — were affected. If the 

 position of the fishermen be judged merely by the value of the herrings 



