of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



175 



an agreement with the curer to deliver their fish at about 12s. per cwt., 

 but during the season of 1914 they arranged to consign their catches to 

 Aberdeen market where, owing to the restrictions on trawHng in the 

 North Sea, and the consequent scarcity of fish, exceptionally high prices 

 were obtained for them. The result was that several crews (4 men) 

 earned from £60 to £80 per week. The total landings of white fish 

 caught on the East Coast by lines, including Orkney and Shetland, were 

 553,329 cwts., valued at £351,977, as compared with 484,786 cwts., valued 

 at £288,581 in 1913. 



Cod- net Fishing. 



Cod-net fishing was prosecuted principally from the districts of Buckie 

 and Findhorn. Owing to unfavourable weather conditions, and also to 

 a scarcity of fish on the spawning grounds, the catch fell considerably 

 short of the average of the four preceding years. The total landings for 

 the season, which extended from the middle of February to llth April, 

 amounted to 28,291 cwts., valued at £14,332, as compared with 56,713 

 cwts. and £26,415 in 1913. The average number of steamers employed 

 was 34, of motor-boats 19, and of sailers 108. Altogether, upwards of 

 1000 men were engaged in this fishing. During the season of 1913 exten- 

 sive loss was occasioned through foreign trawlers ti'awling over the cod 

 nets. Steps, however, were taken by the Board to minimise the risk of 

 damage, by issuing regulations at the commencement of the season, 

 providing for the marking and lighting of these nets. These regulations 

 were circulated both in home and foreign trawling ports, and during the 

 year under review there was a very appreciable decrease in the cases 

 of loss reported. 



Mackerel Fishing. 



The shoals of mackerel on both the East and West Coasts were quite 

 as abundant as in 1913. The only district on the coast where mackerel 

 fishing is carried on, apart from herring fishing, is Loch Carron and Skye. 

 The landings at Kyle of Lochalsh — the terminus of the Highland Railway 

 — show an increase in quantity and value as compared with 1913. Owing 

 to the railway facilities for the early despatch of the fish to the southern 

 markets, the average price per cran was 19s. 5d., as against 16s. 5d. during 

 the previous season. At all the other districts on the ¥/est and East 

 Coasts the catches of mackerel are merely incidental to the herring fishing. 

 The presence of such large shoals of mackerel in the North Sea and Scottish 

 waters during the past two seasons is unaccountable, the more so as 

 there had been an absence of this fish in the North Sea for several years 

 prior to 1910. Large quantities are now being purchased for tinning. 

 With the exception, however, of a few barrels cured for the American 

 markets, the great bulk of the catch was forwarded in a fresh state — 

 boxed and iced — to the southern markets. Almost annually a small fleet 

 of Scandinavian vessels, with stocks and plant on board for curing mackerel, 

 make Lerwick Harbour their headquarters. Altogether about 1500 

 barrels were cured by them, which they took home to Norway and Sweden. 

 The average price for the season was 3s. lid. per cwt., as compared with 

 2s. 8fd. in 1913. The price very much depended on the days on which 

 delivery was made. On Fridays and Saturdays only nominal prices were 

 obtained, whereas in the early part of the week, at stations where there 

 was a good railway connection, the fish realised high prices. 



Sfrat Fishing. 



In contrast to the past few years, the sprat fishing prosecuted in the 

 Firths of Forth, Tay, and Beauly was attended with a large measure of 



