iv 



Thirty -first Annual Report 



The decrease in the total number of vessels shows the rapidity with 

 which the sailing boats are being transformed into, or superseded by, 

 vessels propelled by steam or by motor power, and manned by larger 

 crews. 



The number of steam vessels engaged in the fisheries of Scotland 

 during 1912 was 1554, against 1486 in 1911, and of motor-driven 

 vessels 356, against 233, or an increase during the year of 68 steam 

 ve«5els and 123 motor vessels. This is by far the greatest increase of 

 motor boats we have yet had to chronicle in one year, and the process 

 of change shows no sign of slackening. Indeed, the indications seem 

 rather to point to increased activity in the future, both in steam and 

 motor. 



DIFFEEENT FISHERIES. 

 1. HERRING FimERY— GENERAL. 



The herring catch of 1912 amounted to 5,201,300 cwts. in quantity 

 and £1,910,533 in value, as compared with 5,036,484 cwts. and 

 £1,505,334 in 1911. This shows an increase of 164,816 cwts. and 

 £405,199 over the previous year, and in point of value constitutes the 

 high-water mark of the herring fishery of Scotland. The price per 

 cwt. paid to the fishermen also sets up a new record. 



Several causes combined to maintain the price of Scottish cured 

 herrings on the Continent— their principal market — and this in turn 

 served to ensure a proportionately high price for the raw material. 



The following table gives the total results of the Scottish herring 

 fishery since 1898 : — 









Average 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. * 



Price per 







Cwt. 





Cwts. 



£ 





1898 



4,703,641 



952,402 



4/Oi 



1899 



3,207,078 



1,143,296 



7/Oi 



1900 



3,520,216 



1,243,407 



7/ 



1901 



4,338,635 



1,061,034 



4/101 



1902 



4,753,944 



1,360,492 



5/8i 



1903 



4,279,485 



1,244,656 



5/9f 



1904 



5,432,494 



1,017,541 



3/9 



1905 



5,342,777 



1,343,080 



5/ 



1906 



4,979,848 



1,649,163 



6/7i 



1907 



6,253,341 



1,795,650 



5/9 



1908 



5,690,114 



1.151,644 





1909 



4,541.297 



1,569,743 



6/11 



1910 



5,687,226 



1,594,308 



5/7 



1911 



5,036,484 



1,505,334 



6/ 



1912 



5,201,300 



1,910,533 



7 41 



