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Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



Lyhster District. 



For a number of years past this district, which is one with a very 

 Hmited coast line, has been gradually declining in importance, and the 

 results during the year under review were extremely disappointing. 



As regards the means of capture, a large second-hand Zulu boat was 

 acquired by one of the district crews, but otherwise no change worthy of 

 note took place. No new methods of fishing or developments of any 

 description have been introduced. 



A long continuation of unfavourable weather, both in the earlv and 

 latter months of the year, was largely accountable for the unfavourable 

 results. Owing to the class of craft made use of by the fishermen of the 

 district, and the small harbours from which they operate, their calling 

 can only be prosecuted under somewhat favourable weather conditions. 



At one time the winter herring fishing in this district was looked for- 

 ward to as a time of activity and success. On no occasion since its incep- 

 tion has that branch of the industiy been such a pronounced failure as in 

 1914. Certainly fishermen had few opportunities of getting to sea owing 

 to the continuance of south and south-east breezes, but when it was 

 possible for them to venture out there was an absence of fish upon the 

 coast, and in consequence there was nothing landed. 



For the prosecution of the summer herring fishing there was about 

 the same number of boats fitted out as has been the case for several years 

 past. The only curer now remaining at Lybster had engaged coopers 

 and female workers to deal with their catches.. Fishing was prosecuted 

 intermittently during June and July, but with most disappointing success. 



It is chiefly inshore fishing that is pursued, and during the time that 

 operations were continued there was a great scarcity of herrings upon the 

 local grounds. Had the work been continued into August and September 

 the fishermen might have reaped some reward for their labours. 



Upon the outbreak of war the fishing was abandoned, as there was 

 little prospect at that time of a market for cured herrings being found, 

 seeing that access to the German and Russian ports was cut off. In the 

 district the landing of herrings during the year ' amounted to 50 cwts., 

 valued at £12, compared with 1971 cwts., valued at £791 for the previous 

 year. 



The catch of white fish was only 50 per cent, of that of the previous 

 year. There was a considerable decrease in cod, and a still larger decrease 

 in haddocks. At the period of the year when fine fishing is most vigorously 

 pursued, interruptions frequently occurred, and along with that there was 

 a lack of fish upon the usual grounds. 



Crab and lobster fishing was engaged in to much the same extent as 

 in the previous year. Only about one-third of the number of lobsters 

 were caught, however, but the catch of crabs showed a decided increase. 



One of the Lybster crews again hired a small motor propelled boat, 

 which was employed for a few months at fine fishing. That venture, 

 unfortunately, was not a remunerative one, as the earnings were not 

 sufficient either to pay the boat owner for the outlay on his craft or leave 

 the crew with a satisfactory return for their labour. 



In this district every succeeding year sees a decrease in the number 

 of men who engage in the fishing for a livelihood, or augment their income 

 by devoting part of their time to its prosecution. 



During the first six months of the year there were 12 coopers employed 

 at barrel-making in Lybster, and they all had an opportunity of being fully 

 employed. Most of the barrels produced were intended for use in other 

 districts. With the stoppage of the herring fishing early in August the 



