190 



Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



boats was pursuing the fisliinor in August, for the most part at the North- 

 umbrian ports, with ev(M v ]u)])e of a successful season, when the outbreak 

 of tlie war at first curtailed the operations and latterly suspended them, 

 entirely, so that the men earned only a few pounds, and as none of the 

 local craft went to the Norfolk coast fishing, that hitherto most remuner- 

 ative brauch was completely lost to them as well. Then, as fishing was 

 latterly prohibited in the Firth of Forth, the December herring fishing 

 in home waters was also lost. The herring cuiers, not a numerous class 

 in this district, lost very heavily also, but bore it without complaint. 

 The cessation of the herring fishing had, however, a stimulating effect on 

 tlie trawl and hne fishings for at least three mon.ths after the war was 

 declared ; the trawlers were then actively at work, and obtained good 

 supplies of fish. The characteristic resourcefidness of Scottish fishermen 

 was exemplified in the activity with whicli they turned to line fishing in 

 the home waters when deprived of the opportunity to contirme the pursuit 

 of the herring. For several months this was carried on with fair success, 

 and as, owing to the general lightness of supplies, prices advanced to 

 about double the normal rates, good earnings were obtained. 



The winter herring fishing in the Firth of Forth— there is practically 

 no summer fishing here — was the most successful in living memory. Its 

 principal season was from January to March, but the heaviest catches 

 were obtained during February. In all, about 76 yawls were employed in 

 it. The year's catch and its value, for this district, was 9064 crans, and 

 £13,041, being an increase of 5485 crans and £6044 in comparison with 

 the preceding year's results. The herrings came quite close to the shore, 

 and for three weeks in succession some of the most fortunate of the yawls 

 earned as much as £120 a week. The herrings were of good quahty, and 

 there never was a better demand ; early in the season the prices ranged 

 from 50s. to 62s. per cran, and the season's average price was about 30s. 

 A large proportion of the catch was iced and sent direct to Hamburg. 



For the third year in succession the sprat fishing failed. The catch in 

 the Forth was 1294 crans. 



Line-fishing as carried on by the yawls is not comparatively of much 

 importance, tlie mainstay being the herring fishing. It affords, however, a 

 small daily income during the spring and winter, but it appears to be 

 slowly declining. Within the past two or tliree years 20 of the yawls 

 . have had motor engines added to their equipment. 



The crab, lobster, and clam fisheries are fairly remunerative here ; 

 they are carried on principally from Cove, Dunbar, and Cockenzie. The 

 yearly value is usually about £5000, but owing, no doubt, to the restric- 

 tions put upon the industry generally during the closing months of the 

 year, the value of this year's produce was about £500 less than usual. 



Details of affairs at the creeks show a decrease of 46 sail boats since 

 the preceding year. This was mainly due to the discarding of some of the 

 older herring boats ; boats that had served well their day and generation. 

 When I expressed to a local fisherman my serious concern for the dis- 

 appearance of so many boats, he facetiously replied, " There is no need 

 to be downhearted, no ; the boats have earned more gold in their time 

 than they could carry." Although this was, of course, an exaggeration, 

 it was good to have the assurance of past successes, and although the 

 boats have not been immediately replaced, it is to be hoped their places 

 will be filled in the brighter days near at hand by the newer type of steam 

 and motor vessel. The herring fishing fleet of the district at present 

 comprises 14 steamers, 10 large motor, and 42 sail boats, with, of course, 

 the addition of about 70 yawls that carry on herring fishing in the home 

 waters as well as fining. 



During the first half of the year the usual extensive trade in the export 



