xviii 



TJiirtij-Jirst Annual Beport 



to the last fartliing of its value for the fresh article, and as the fishing 

 was a remarkably level one, with an entire absence of the alternate 

 periods of glut and shortage which frequently characterise it, prices 

 soon readied, and maintained to the close of the season, a higher level 

 than ever before. 



The extent to which prices were affected by the conditions de- 

 scribed is well brought out by a comparison of the average prices per 

 cwt. realised. During the year under review it was 7s. 4d., as 

 against 6s. in 1911. This is the highest price ever reached, the pre- 

 vious highest (7s.) having been attained in 1899 and 1900. In 1896 

 it was as low as 3s. 5d., but for the average prices in other years 

 reference should be made to the table given on p. iv. 



With one or two minor points of difference, the course of the fishing 

 during the year under review bore a general resemblance to that of the 

 two previous seasons. The winter catch was again a very small one, 

 while on the East Coast the summer fishing was again in full swing 

 by the end of May, and had practically terminated by the end of 

 August. It was in regard to the observance of a close time, and the 

 weather conditions, that the season of 1912 was principally differenti- 

 ated from its predecessor. In 1911 a close time in the beginning of 

 the season was forced upon the fishermen by the disastrous results 

 which followed upon the landing of large quantities of immature fish. 

 The lesson of that experience was not lost upon them, and accordingly 

 a proposal to observe a voluntary close time until the 10th June was 

 generally adopted, but as the English and Shetland fishermen 

 declined to agree to it, it was never carried out. Still, the decision 

 partly effected its purpose, as it retarded for a fortnight the fitting 

 out of a large number of craft, and caused a number to proceed to the 

 West Coast. 



As regards the weather, the seasons of 1911 and 1912 were in direct 

 contrast, the former having been calm and hot, and the latter breezy 

 and cold, and in this connection it may be remarked that the good 

 quality of the fish in 1912 came as a matter of surprise to those con- 

 nected with the industry, with whom the maxim "cold summer — 

 poor herrings " had become axiomatic. 



Of the total landings, the East Coast contributed 49 per cent., 

 Orkney and Shetland 37 per cent., and the West Coast 14 per cent., 

 the corresponding percentages in respect of value being 47, 39, and 

 14. Of individual contributors, Shetland, with a catch of 1,393,752 

 cwts., was, as usual, an easy first, this quantity slightly exceeding the 

 combined catches of the two most important stations on the East 

 Coast — Fraserburgh and Peterhead. Other prominent contributors 

 on the East Coast were Wick and Aberdeen, while on the West 

 Coast Stornoway was, as usual, a long way ahead of any other 

 district. One of the most striking features of recent years has been 

 the rapid rise to importance of Stronsay as a fishing centre. Last 

 year this port made another big step in advance, with the result that 

 in the returns for 1912 Orkney now treads closely upon the heels of 

 such an old-established centre as Wick. Stronsay's progress will 

 best be appreciated when it is stated that the landings in Orkney 

 district have risen from 128,000 cwts. in 1906 to 541,000 cwts. 

 during the year under review. 



Attention has been drawn in recent reports to the rapidly-in- 



