of tlie Fishery Board for Scotland. 



XXV 



year. The decrease in the trawl catch is of course explained by the 

 requisitioning of so many vessels by the Admiralty, while the improve- 

 ment in the line catch was due to the success which attended steam and 

 motor liners throughout the year, as the catch by sailing liners fell 

 from 311,000 cwts. to 226,000 cwts. The increase in the catch of the 

 steam liners, which amounted to 56,391 cwts., or 18 per cent, upon the 

 preceding year's figures, is more than accounted for at Aberdeen, 

 where the local fleet was augmented during the early summer by a 

 considerable number of steam-fishing vessels from other ports, which 

 found lining more remunerative than herring fishing, and from 

 September onwards by a number of Grimsby vessels. The motor 

 liners' contribution amounted to 82,849 cwts., or 84 per cent, more 

 than in 1913, an increase which furnishes the strongest testimony 

 fo the rapidity witii which this method of gaining a livelihood is 

 commending itself to fishermen. 



Of the total quantity landed by trawlers, -506,875 cwts., or more than 

 23 per cent., was referable to the German trawlers working from 

 Aberdeen. The operations of these vessels have been a factor of 

 gTowing importance to the industry at that port in recent years, and 

 that they would, under normal conditions, have bulked still more 

 largely during the year under review is shown by the fact that, although 

 they were debarred from entering the port after 1st August, their con- 

 tribution was only 16,000 cwts. less than in 1913. The cutting off of 

 practically their sole source of supply was a very serious matter for 

 the numerous firms of fish curers in that city, and although a few 

 Grimsby trawlers took up the Icelandic fishing in the closing months 

 of the year, their landings went only a little way towards alleviating 

 the situation. 



Of the value, £1,333,834. or 75 per cent., is referable to trawl fish ; 

 £401,081, or 22'5 per cent., to lines ; and £44,0.58, or 2-5 per cent., to 

 nets. In 1913 the corresponding percentages were 78, 19' 6, and 2*4. 

 The average price per cwt. for the year was 12s. Id., as compared with 

 lis. Id. in the preceding year. 



In the following table the fishing grounds or areas from which the 

 Scottish white-fish supply is drawn are shown, together with the 

 quantities of the various species taken from eatjh : — 



[Table. 



