xii 



Thirty -first Annual Report 



It will be observed that all the figures again show increases. The 

 addition to the fleet was the smallest recorded since 1905, but in view 

 of the dimensions which the fleet has attained and the circumstances 

 which attended the herring fishing in 1911, the increase may be re- 

 garded as satisfactory. The addition would doubtless have been 

 greater but for the increase in the cost of construction, which deterred 

 several prospective purchasers from acquiring new vessels. 



Since 1902 the fleet has increased in number from 100 to 824, in 

 tonnage from 2900 to 22,470,and in value from £205,620 to £1,953,140, 

 while the value of gear has risen from £28,990 to £315,722. The 

 figures require no comment ; they testify sufficiently themselves to 

 the enterprise, ability, and success of those engaged in the industry. 



As in previous years, information has been collected as to the earn- 

 ings of steam vessels at the principal herring fishings, and while the 

 reports are probably not mathematically correct, the following table 

 gives a fairly accurate estimate of the average figures for the principal 

 districts : — 





Average Earnings per Vessel. 



District. 



Gi eat Summer- Herring 



English Herring 





Fishing. 



Fishing. 





1912. 



1911. 



1912. 



1911. 





£ 



£ 



£ 



£ 



Anstruther, . . 



830 



746 



740 



598 



Aberdeen, . . 



740 



630 



660 



685 



Peterhead, . . 



982 



743 



825 



600 



Fraserburgh, 



1,043 



1,019 



790 



663 



Banjff, 



960 



900 



750 



600 



Buckie, 



950 



940 



800 



700 



Findhorn, . . 



1,000 



900 



700 



700 



Wick, 



1,020 



840 



720 



590 



It will be observed that for the great summer herring fishing the 

 earnings all round showed increases, those of the Peterhead and Wick 

 districts being specially noticeable. The Fraserburgh crews retain 

 the leading place, but they are closely followed by those hailing from 

 Wick and Findhorn. 



The results from the English fishing also show general improvement 

 on those for the previous year, only one district returning a decrease. 

 Herrings were plentiful, but with a continuous demand good prices 

 prevailed throughout, and the majority of the crews had a very 

 successful season. 



While the herring fishings mentioned above represent the main 

 sources of income of the steam fishing fleet, it must be borne in mind 

 that many of them also pursue the herring fishing at other centres 

 and times, while others engage in line-fishing. The fishing at Ireland 

 in the early part of the year appears generally to have yielded poor 

 results to the Scottish boats engaged, many of them having failed to 



