XXVl 



Thirty -first Annual lieport 



by trawl was 154,782 cwts., and by line 19,210 cwts , as compared 

 with 127,822 cwts. and 15,472 cwts. in 1911, both methods of capture 

 thus showing improved results. The bulk of the increase in the 

 trawl catch is referable to Aberdeen, while the addition to the line 

 catch was due chiefly to the success which attended small-line fishing 

 on the Kincardineshire coast. 



The value of the catch was £70,151, as against £55,747 in 1911. 



Saithe, Torsk, and Conger Eels, 



Saithe also appear to have been much more abundant than in 1911, 

 the total catch amounting to 286,882 cwts., valued at £48,936, which 

 represents an increase of 70,582 cwts. in quantity and of £17,642 

 in value upon the figures for the preceding year. The increase, both 

 in quantity and value, was almost wholly referable to trawling, and 

 was accounted for, in roughly equal proportions, by the Aberdeen 

 trawling fleet, which contributed half of the total catch, and foreign 

 fishing vessels. The catch by Hne, which amounted to 75,203 cwts., 

 divided between sailing-liners and steam-liners in the ratio of 3 : 2, 

 remained practically stationary, an increase of 5000 cwts., or about 

 25 per cent., on the East Coast being neutralised by a corresponding 

 decrease on the other sections of the coast. It will be observed that 

 the catch in Orkney district dropped from 11,595 cwts. to 1619 cwts., 

 a falling off' which was due to the non-appearance in 1912 of the 

 dense shoals of young saithe which, during the last year or two, have 

 entered Kirkwall and Stromness harbours towards the close of the 

 year, and which were taken in great quantities to be utilised as 

 manure. The total for Orkney and Shetland was, however, kept well 

 up to the preceding year's level by the increased quantities landed at 

 Lerwick by the herring -drifters, who engaged in hand-line fishing 

 while riding to their nets, and captured nearly 1000 tons of white- 

 fish by this means during the season. 



Of torsk only 16,503 cwts., valued at £5112, were landed, as com- 

 pared with 22,032 cwts. and £6145 in 1911. This species is landed 

 principally by steam liners, and the greater part of the decrease was 

 referable to the Aberdeen fleet. 



Conger eels are taken chiefly on the West Coast, Mallaig and 

 Stornoway being the principal landing ports, and the catch in 1912 

 amounted to 36,863 cwts., valued at £11,554, these figures representing 

 an increase in quantity of 2801 cwts., but a decrease in value of 

 £526, as compared with the preceding year's returns. Steam liners, 

 working chiefly from Mallaig, accounted for 72 per cent, of the catch 

 and 65 per cent, of the value, and sailing liners for practically the 

 whole of the remainder. 



Hake, Ghtrnards, Cat-fish, ayid Monks (Anglers). 



Gurnards, cat-fish, and monks are still not much esteemed as 

 articles of food in this country, although there was an improved 

 demand for all three in 1912, particularly for monks. The latter are 

 in great request on the Continent, where they command high prices, 

 in consequence of which 11,000 cwts. (about half the catch) were 

 exported. The aggregate catch of the three species (taken almost 



