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Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



than the fishoi'inen and fishworkcrs, have also been badly hit, and 

 though the results in most cases cannot be described as disastrous they 

 will be rather severe 



Owing to an agreement early in June among buyers and importers on 

 the Continent not to buy early and immature herrings, larger stocks than 

 usual accimiulated on this side, and at the beginning of August when 

 hostilities broke out there were 84,000 barrels l}ing on hand, besides a con- 

 siderable quantity consigned to Kussia and Germany and lying in these 

 countries unsold. It became necessar}^ therefore for many to seek other 

 outlets for their produce, and several exporters shipped consignments 

 to Norway, Sweden, and Holland, for which they had to make a declara- 

 tion that these countries were the ultimate destination of the herrings. 

 Ultimately an embargo was placed upon shipments of herring to these 

 neutral countries, but by that time the quantity on hand was reduced to 

 less than 30,000 barrels. Exporters continued their utmost endeavours 

 to find other markets for their surplus stocks, and with that object in 

 view efforts were made to extend the New York market on a much larger 

 scale than in previous years, and to promote co-operation with agents 

 throughout the United States. 



Advances made by local banks and others on the security of the unsold 

 article have to a considerable extent reHeved the situation, and it is hoped 

 that if peace is declared before the beginning of another herring fishing 

 season even the most heavily involved may weather it out. A number of 

 those most directly concerned, however, do not think it at all prol able 

 that a settlement will be arrived at in time to allow the fishing to be 

 resumed under anything like normal conditions, and they view the pros- 

 pects for the year 1915 with considerable foreboding. 



At the close of the present gigantic struggle many grave questions 

 will arise in connection with the fishing industry, and none more pressing 

 than those concerned with the herring markets. Germany, which has for 

 a number of years been one of the principal markets for the Scottish cured 

 herrings, will not likely be in a condition to permit of consignments being 

 sent to her throughout the year 1915, so the American market ought to be 

 developed to such an extent as to compensate to a certain degree for the 

 loss of trade sustained on the Continent. 



Since the outbreak of the war the number of fishermen engaged in 

 white fishing has increased considerably, but owing to exceptionally 

 severe weather and the scarcity of fish on the inshore grounds, there is a 

 decrease in the quantity of fish landed. The high prices, how^ever, obtained 

 for the various kinds of fish raised the total value slightly above that of 

 the previous year. 



As already stated, the Enghsh herring fishing upon which so much 

 depends nowadays proved the most disastrous since it has been the habit 

 of the fishermen of this district to participate in it. Only 32 local vessels 

 ventured south to Lowestoft and Yarmouth, compared with four times 

 that number in 1913, but owing to the risk to life and property from 

 mines in the North Sea, they only remained for a brief period. For the 

 short time they were engaged in fishing they did well, their earnings 

 amounting to £420 per vessel. This, however, was but a pittance com- 

 pared with the earnings of previous years, and by four times the number 

 of fishermen. Very few curers or their workers, such as coopers, carters, 

 and gutters, proceeded south, and the lack of the earnings which these 

 generally brought home from East Anglian ports will be very much felt 

 throughout Peterhead and district. 



As practically all the year's stocks of barrels are as a rule made before 

 the beginning of the summer herring fishing, larger supplies than ever were 

 nianufactured during 1914, but owing to the outbreak of war a lar^e 



