of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



173 



ing at the various great centres on the coast, where their operations 

 proved highly remunerative. 



The herring fishing at Wick was the most successful on record, the 

 landings exceeding tliose of the previous year by 5236 crans in 

 quantity and £42,716 in value, 'ihe features of the season were the 

 regularity with which the fishing was prosecuted, and the keen demand 

 which prevailed. With few exceptions, the fishermen's earnings were 

 of a substantial character. As a fishing centre. Wick, with its im- 

 proved harbour accommodation, and its nearness to some of the best 

 fishing grounds, has within recent years been greatly taken advantage 

 of by fishermen and curers. 



In Orkney and Shetland the season was one of remarkable 

 prosperity. During the past two years no district on the coast has 

 emerged into prominence more than Orkney. Encouraged by 

 improved harbour accommodation and close proximity to the fishing 

 grounds, fishermen were attracted to the locality, with the result that 

 at Stronsay and Carness large sums of money were expended by curers 

 in erecting curing stations to cope with the landings of an increased 

 fleet. The season at Lerwick was a most profitable one for the fisher- 

 men. Up to the end of July many of the crews had earned as much as 

 they had done during the whole of the season of 1911. In August 

 stormy weather set in, with the result that the majority of tlie fleet 

 returned south. The port of Scalloway, at which so little was done 

 during the past three years, more than doubled its catch as compared 

 with the previous year. At Baltasound, which used to be the princi- 

 pal early station, a decrease in the catch has again to be recorded. 



Although the herring fishing prosecuted in the southern section of 

 the Minch shows a slight falling off, at Stornoway the aggregate 

 catch was 35,000 crans in quantity and £65,000 in value ahead 

 of the previous year. Unfortunately, few of the local boats were 

 employed at the winter herring fishing. In December some excellent 

 catches of herrings were obtained in Loch Bracadale, and remunerative 

 prices obtained. Although the great bulk of the earnings went to 

 the stranger fishermen, the natives greatly benefited by the increased 

 catch. 



Extremely poor results were obtained at the herring fishing in Loch 

 Broom district, and although large shots of herrings were secured in 

 some of the lochs of Loch Carron and Skye district, they were netted 

 by boats working from Stornoway and Mallaig. For the past few 

 years various attempts have been made to make Oban a fishing centre 

 for both winter and summer herring fishing, but on each occasion with 

 only moderate success. 



A small fleet of boats also operated from Mallaig during May and 

 June, but the results were unsatisfactory. 



After a lapse of several years, the fisheries of the Clyde districts, 

 particularly those of Campbeltown and Ballantrae, show signs of 

 revival. The outstanding feature of the year was the large number of 

 boats fitted with motor auxiliary power. 



The fishermen who are prosecuting the herring fishing in boats which 

 are not fitted with motors find that it is impossible for them to maintain 

 a satisfactory position. 



The herring fishing at Campbeltown was an exceptionally profitable 

 one for the fishermen, and the quantity landed was higher than for 

 ^o^^'^lj^^''^ ^^^"^ catch was £36,431, as against 



£23,578 m 1911. The quality was also above the average, and as 

 there was a keen demand for curing, high prices were realised. The 

 average price for the year was 7s. per cran in advance of 1911. The bulk 

 ot the herrings were caught with the seine net, and delivered to buying 



