172 



Appendices to Thirty-first Annual Report 



For the past few years the winter herring fishing prosecuted in the 

 Firth of Forth has been practically a failure. In February and March 

 last small shoals of herrings made their appearance close inshore, 

 where the fishermen were only able to work with set nets. There was 

 a good demand for those landed. The average price was 6s. 4d. per 

 cran in advance of the previous season. 



At Montrose and Aberdeen the landings of herrings fell far short of 

 the previous year. At the former station a commencement was not 

 made at fishing until 1st July — almost a month later than in 1911. 

 Fully one-fourth of the season's catch was secured during the first 

 week of August. Owing to the scarcity of herrings on the southern 

 grounds, very few of the stranger crews were attracted to the port, so 

 that nearly all the landings were made by the local craft. Through- 

 out the season the number of boats working from Aberdeen was un- 

 usually small, consequently the landings were unequal to the demand. 

 On the usual grounds fished by the Aberdeen boats only small catches 

 were obtained, and owing to the brisk demand the average price was 

 Is. 5d. per cran in advance of 1911. The quantity of herrings cured 

 gutted was the smallest for many years back. During the year a large 

 business was done in preserving and kippering, the supplies being 

 received from the West Coast in autumn and from Norway in spring. 

 Altogether, close upon 2500 crans were imported from the latter 

 place, about one-half of which was railed from Hull, and a similar 

 quantity was brought in from Yarmouth for redding purposes. In 

 the tinning industry alone, the quantity dealt with shows an increase 

 of 9000 crans as compared with 1907, and of 4000 as compared with 

 last year. 



Although trials were made of the herring fishing at Peterhead and 

 Fraserburgh towards the end of May, a general commencement was 

 not made until 1st June. To avoid a repetition of the losses sustained 

 in 1911, through the landing of immature fish, a proposal was made 

 to establish a close time, but it was not adopted. Fortunately, the 

 herrings were of better quality than in 1911, and a good demand pre- 

 vailed. At the former place, the season closed with a total of close 

 upon 200,000 crans. In consequence of the high price, which was 4s. 9d. 

 per cran in advance of the previous season, the results to the fishermen 

 were most gratifying. The average earnings of the steamers, of which 

 there were 145, were close upon £1000, while those of the sail boats, 

 which numbered 190, were about half this amount. Favourable 

 weather and the nearness of the fishing grounds contributed greatly to 

 the success of the latter. One of the chief factors in contributing to 

 the general prosperity of the port was the remarkable success of the 

 steam.ers and sailers employed at the English herring fishing. 



At Fraserburgh the season was also one of general prosperity, in 

 which all classes of the community shared. The landings at this station 

 were 7379 crans and £48,000 in value in excess of the previous year. At 

 the commencement of the season in May, the sail boats were handi- 

 capped for want of hired men — a sufficient number not being forward 

 for so early a commencement. Breezy weather throughout the season 

 was favourable to the sail boats, with the result that their average on 

 several days exceeded that of the steamers. Their average earnings 

 were far ahead of any previous season. 



An early commencement was made at the herring fishing by a small 

 fleet of boats working from Macduff and other stations in the upper 

 reaches of the Firth, but their success fell far short of the preceding 

 year. The bulk of the catch was brought in by vessels visiting their 

 homes for the week-end to replenish their stores. The most persever- 

 ing fishermen belonging to the Moray Firth district prosecuted the fish- 



