XX 



Thirty-third Annual Report 



Week endino- 27th June . . . . 151,000 crans. 



' 4th July . . . . 90,000 „ 



11th „ .. .. 65,000 „ 



18th „ .. .. 49,000 „ 



25th „ .. .. 42,000 „ 



The similarity between the seasons of 1913 and 1914 was heightened 

 by the fact that towards the end of July the catches showed a marked 

 improvement, and the success of the limited operations subsequently 

 carried on points strongly to the probability that, in ordinary circum- 

 stances, the latter half of the season would have been highly successful. 



The average prices obtained by steam, motor, and sailing vessels over 

 the whole year were respectively 6s. Id., 6s. lOd., and 5s. lid. As a 

 rule the steamers, owing to the advantage which their superior mobility 

 gives them in catching the market, receive better prices than sailing 

 vessels, and the practical equality as between steam and sail evidenced 

 by these figures is due to the disturbing influence of the record winter 

 catch, 77 per cent, of which was landed by steamers, and for which 

 relatively low prices were realised. The higher average obtained by 

 the motor boats is explained by the fact that a large proportion of 

 their total contributions is landed in the Clyde, where the supply for 

 the greater part of the year was not equal to the demand, and prices 

 in consequence ruled at a higher level than on other parts of the 

 coast. 



Of the total landings, the East Coast contributed 50 per cent., 

 Orkney and Shetland 29 per cent., and the West Coast 21 per cent., 

 as compared with 53, 23, and 24 per cent, in 1913 ; while as regards 

 value the corresponding percentages were 48, 31 '5, and 20-5, as against 

 55, 25, and 20 in the preceding year. An examination of the district 

 returns shows that Shetland, with a catch of 957,000 cwts., regained 

 the position at the head of affairs which it last year resigned to Peter- 

 head. The latter district, however, retained the second place, although 

 at a considerable distance, and was closely followed by Stornoway, 

 Wick, and Fraserburgh, in the order named, these districts collectively 

 accounting for 74 per cent, of the entire catch. 



As usual, the lion's share of the catch fell to the steam-fishing 

 fleet, which, with 74 per cent, of the year's total to its credit, as com- 

 pared with 64 per cent, in 1913, still further widened the gap between 

 it and the sailing vessels. Motor boats also fell behind during the 

 year, and the remainder of the catch was divided between the sail 

 and motor fleets in the ratio of 2*9 : 1. 



As hostilities broke out before the herring trawhng season had 

 come round, the war has for the time being solved this vexed question 

 in so far as the North Sea is concerned, and the only shot which was 

 secured by means of the special herring trawl net in 1914 was taken 

 on the west coast of Tiree. The total quantity of herrings landed 

 by trawlers was 4270 cwts., which realised £2459, as compared with 

 12,106 cwts. and £6628 in the preceding year. 



Winter Herring Fishing. 



During the last two years the winter herring fishing has undergone 

 a remarkable development. It will perhaps be recalled that the catch 

 for 1913 was the heaviest ever landed, exceeding the previous best 



