of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



177 



alternative but to meet the demand. (5) The abrupt termination of the 

 fishing on the East Coast in the beginning of August seriously affected 

 the industry. Fishermen, hired hands, and fishworkers found them- 

 selves suddenly out of em.ployment. Several cargoes of herring which 

 were on passage to Russia and Germany at the outbreak of hostilities did 

 not reach their destination, and although advantage was taken of neutral 

 ports in Sweden and Norway, and the fish exposed for sale, unsatisfactory 

 prices were obtained. Moreover, curers had numerous consignments in 

 Germany for which up to the end of the year no account of sales or cash 

 had been received. 



Northumberland. 



On the Northumberland coast, over which the Board still have juris- 

 diction, the herring fishing of 1914 — so far as curing is concerned — was 

 the most unsuccessful for the last 45 years. The total cured, exclusive 

 of Eyemouth, was 3400 barrels, as against 108,000 in 1913. At the com- 

 mencement of the season the Eyemouth boats prosecuted the fishing 

 at several of the more northern stations, where fair earnings were secured. 

 Since the fishermen of the district have adopted motor installation for 

 their boats and have gone in for steam drifters they have become most 

 enterprising. The season at East Anglia was a most remunerative one 

 to them, the earnings of several of the steamers ranging from £560 to 

 £2700. 



Leith and Anstruther. 



The fishermen of Leith and Anstruther prosecute the herring fishing 

 from other districts, the former working chiefly from North Shields, and 

 the latter from stations north of Aberdeen. A marked improvement 

 took place in the landings at Montrose, as compared with the previous 

 season, but the quantity fell considerably short of the average of the 

 past 10 years. As a herring fishing station Aberdeen seems to make 

 little progress. Not until the fishing at the more northern stations — 

 particularly Shetland — is about finished do the boats congregate at the 

 ports in any great numbers. 



Peterhead to WicJc. 



So far as the landings of herrings are concerned, Peterhead at present 

 holds the premier place on the East Coast, and this is due to the large fleet of 

 steamers employed and its proximity to the fishing grounds. In the total 

 landings there is a decrease of 50,000 crans, and in value of £195,000, as 

 compared with the previous year. This shortage was entirely the result of 

 the abrupt termination of the fishing. The prosperity which attended fish- 

 ing operations in 1913 had induced about a dozen men who were successful 

 fishermen to try their fortune as fishcurers. The speculation to them must 

 have been a serious loss, as doubtless a large portion of their capital 

 would be required for the necessary plant, etc. In the catch of herring 

 at Fraserburgh there was a decrease of about 25,000 crans, and £169,000 

 in value, as compared with the previous year. With the improved harbour 

 accommodation there was every prospect of record landings, but the 

 shortage is entirely due to the stoppage of the fishing owing to the war. 

 On the Banff and Moray coasts the landings of herrings were chiefly 

 by boats home for the week-ends to replenish their stores. Both the 

 winter and summer herring fishings prosecuted from Wick were attended 

 with a fair measure of success. Early in the year a large shoal of herrings 

 was located on the north-west of Sutherland, from which grounds heavy 

 hauls were obtained. The shoal was so dense that one of the steamers 

 employed secured a haul of 240 crans, estimated at 240,000 herrings, 

 which is the largest individual catch ever delivered at the port. Not- 



