of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



173 



imposed on the East Anglian herring fishing, the number of steam fishing 

 vessels would have been considerably increased, as many crews had placed 

 orders with builders which had ultimately to be withdrawn. 



In the number of motor boats, which includes new and second-hand 

 craft fitted with the installation, there is an increase of 171. The tonnage 

 of these vessels has increased 43 per cent, and the value 37 "1 per cent, 

 over the previous year. The districts which principally account for 

 these increases are — Leith, Montrose, Fraserburgh, Banff, and Wick 

 on the East Coast, and Loch Carron and Skye. Inverary, Campbeltown, 

 and Ballantrae on the West Coast. In the Campbeltown district the 

 whole of the herring fleet has now been fitted with motor installation, 

 and from the success of these boats it is only a matter of time until all 

 the craft employed at herring fishing in the estuary of the Clyde will 

 have been so fitted. 



The decrease of 400 boats in the sailing craft is partly due to their 

 conversion from sail to the motor class, and partly to a number of old 

 boats being removed from the register as being unfit for further ase. 

 The enormous increase in netting on the East Coast, which amounts to 

 close upon 4 million square yards, is due to larger drifts being employed 

 and to the most prosperous class of fishermen being provided in case of 

 damage or loss of those in use with from 1 to 2 drifts of a reserve stock. 

 Ten years ago 50 to 60 nets were considered a fair average drift, now 

 80, 90, and up to 100 nets are regularly shot by the majority of the fleet 

 employed. 



In the number of resident fishermen there is a decrease of 541 men. 

 Of this number the East Coast accounts for 1*27 per cent., Orkney and 

 Shetland for 2-78 per cent., and the West Coast 2-06 per cent."' The 

 decrease is mainly due (1) to the dechne of the inshore fisheries, (2) to 

 co-operation among the boat-owners, and (3) to emigration. 



Of the various fishings prosecuted on the Scottish Coasts the herring 

 fishing holds the premier place. Next in order of importance come 

 trawHng, fining, and cod-net fishing. 



Herring Fishing. 



At the end of July, and at the very time the herrings were 

 approaching maturity, and when there seemed every prospect that the 

 fishing would surpass all previous records, the industry was practically 

 brought to a standstill owing to the unfortunate hostilities with Germany. 

 The landings from then onwards were below the average. There was 

 no inducement to the fishermen to secure big catches, as there was abso- 

 lutely no demand by the curers for herrings. Buyers were satisfied with 

 supplies sufficient to meet the demands of the home market. At 

 the beginning of September there were upwards of 300,000 barrels of 

 cured herrings on hand. As the upper and lower Baltic ports were closed, 

 curers had to consider how to get rid of the stocks. Fortunately, Arch- 

 angel, one of the ports of our Allies, was free to receive shipments, with 

 the result that before the end of October about one third of the stocks 

 on hand were exported thereto. Owing, however, to the scarcity of 

 rolHng stock which was being used for the importation of Govern- 

 ment purchases to which priority was given, the greater part of the stocks 

 were, unfortunately, lying at the port of delivery at the close of the year. 

 Large quantities were also despatched to America, the export to that 

 country being several thousand barrels above that of 1913.. An outlet 

 was also found in shipments to Norway and Sweden, but latterly an 

 embargo was placed on herrings intended for export to these countries. 



Owing to the restrictions and difficulties of export a larger business 



