182 



Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



return as they otherwise might have done. As the season advanced and 

 quality improved, the demand increased, prices for the cured article in 

 May and June ranged from 18s. to 32s., and for July from 22s. to 37s. 

 per barrel. Throughout the season parcels of superior matje cure realised 

 from 26s. to 40s., and during the first few days in August 29s. to 46s. per 

 bairel for hard cure, according to selection and quality. Thereafter the 

 demand ceased except for small parcels of superior quality for America. 

 For those sold the average price for the season was 25s. 6d. per barrel, 

 against 33s. 9d. in 1913. When war was declared a considerable portion 

 of the catch on hand and on the Continent was for sale. On these cujers 

 would not lose so heavily as in other districts which consigned more 

 parcels to Germany. The estimated numbers of district fishermen and 

 others on naval and mihtary duty being about 1000, should do much to 

 compensate a class of men who are irregularly employed during the greater 

 part of the year. 



Fair success was obtained at hne fishing during the first four months 

 of the year. Contrasted with the corresponding period in 1913, there 

 was an increase of 7434 cwts., and £4149 respectively. As usual Hne 

 fishing was practically suspended during the summer herring fishing, 

 and for the remainder of the year there was a considerable shortage in the 

 catch. A number of small motor boats fishing from Scalloway, accounted 

 for a large portion of the haddocks landed. Steam liners fishing off Shetland 

 frequently landed light takes of great line fish — going direct to Aberdeen 

 with the heaviest takes. About 12,000 cwts. of haddocks were landed, 

 including 8000 cwts. of mackerel, and 17,000 cwts. of saithe cauejht durincj 

 the summer months by the herring fleet, the total of all kinds of fish other 

 than herring amoimted to about 60,000 cwts., being a slight increase on 

 the preceding year. 



Orkney. 



In Orkney district herring fishing was practically confined to the 

 months of June and July. During that period the catch was 88,000 

 crans, against 6400 for the other months of the year. The calling up of 

 the E.N. Eeserve on the 4th August disorganised the fleet of fishing craft 

 to such an extent that operations had to be suspended about a month 

 earlier than usual. Unfortunately this occurred when the fleet was at its 

 full strength, and when the best results were being obtained. Had the 

 fishing been continued throughout the month of August there is every 

 reason to believe there would have been a record catch, or one at least 

 equal to that of 1912, which yielded 154,600 crans. 



As in the preceding year, extensive preparations were made for curing, 

 and in the number of vessels engaged there was a sUght increase. The 

 bulk of the fleet consisted of Scottish and Enghsh steam vessels, fully 

 90 per cent, of the season's catch was landed at Stronsay, against 85 per 

 cent, in 1913, and 80 per cent, in 1912. At the other places, viz. Kirk- 

 wall, Burray, and Holm there was a slight decrease in the catching and 

 curing power. Weather conditions were more favourable for steam 

 than for sail vessels, the latter being frequently so late in arriving as to 

 seriously depreciate the value of their takes, for the season their gross 

 earnings ranged from £100 to £400, as compared with £400 to £1000 

 for steam vessels. 



As in the preceding year the district fishermen^did .very little at hne 

 fishing, haddock, whiting, and all other kinds of small Hne fish having been 

 exceedingly scarce in Orkney waters. Fair quantities of small cod were 

 caught with hand Hues, and sillock or young saithe were at different 

 periods of the year in great abundance — close on £1000 worth of these 

 being landed. 



