of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



203 



proportion of the quantity made was not utilised, and very few were 

 required for Lowestoft and Yarmouth. With the stores pretty well filled 

 the outlook for the coopers is anything but bright. 



In consequence of a dense fog which was lying round the coast about the 

 middle of June, a number of sailboats and steam drifters went ashore and 

 sustained considerable damage. About the same time a sailboat belonging 

 to Port Erroll was sunk in collision off Peterhead, and unfortunately two 

 of the crew were drowned. This is the worst fatality which has taken 

 place in connection with the fishing industry of the district for a number of 

 years past. 



As so many fishermen have volunteered for patrol and mine-sweeping 

 operations, while others have joined the ranks of the Naval Reserve, there 

 was some difficulty in forming a navigation class for skippers and second 

 hands of steam drifters. The highest number in attendance at one time 

 did not exceed 20. 



Walter Duff, 



Fishery Officer, 



Fishery Office, 

 Peterhead, I2>th January 1915. 



Fraserburgh District. 



The most outstanding features of the year 1914 were a large increase 

 in the number of steam drifters and motor boats, a decrease in the number 

 of sail boats, and the extent to which the industry was affected by the 

 outbreak of war. 



The herring fishing, the most important industry in the district, began 

 about the middle of May ; and as continental buyers had lost considerably 

 by purchasing early caught herrings during previous seasons, they held 

 back, or only purchased small quantities for immediate use. The con- 

 sequence was that prices for fresh herrings remained moderate during the 

 months of May and June. With the advent of July the quahty had im- 

 proved, a more keepable article was produced, and prices rose steadily. 

 During the last two weeks of July fish of splendid quahty were landed, 

 and there was every prospect of a good fishing. To all appearance there 

 were large shoals of fish on the ordinary fishing grounds, and the trade 

 were looking forward hopefully to the future, when war was declared, 

 and the industry was practically brought to a standstill. The Naval 

 Reserve was called up, and about 500 men, mostly hired hands, left early 

 in August. With the exception of a shot of 190 crans, landed by a Wick 

 crew, no herrings were landed during the first two weeks of August. From 

 the 17th August until the 25th September a few steam and motor boats 

 were employed at herring fishing on the inshore grounds, and landed a 

 hght general fishing, which sold at moderate prices, for kippering and 

 freshing purposes. Compared with the former j^ear the catch shows a 

 decrease of only 26,380 crans, but the value is £169,737 less. The average 

 price for 1914 is 20s. Id. per cran, and for the previous season 35s. 7d. 



When war broke out about 56,000 barrels of cured herrings were on 

 hand. A considerable portion of these had been sold to exporters, but 

 owing to a war clause in the sale note, the buyers as a body refused to 

 implement the bargain. Some of these herrings were sold afterwards at 

 4s. to 8s. less per barrel. As Baltic ports were closed, efforts were 

 made to dispose of the stock otherwise. Four cargoes were sent to 

 Archangel, and eleven cargoes to Norwegian ports. There was also a 



