176 



Appendices to Thirti/'first Annual Report 



developftient of th-^ industry, but in spite of these preparations their 

 efforts were attended with no better results than before. For several 

 seasons back shoals of mackerel have made their appearance in Loch 

 Fyne, but the fishing has not been prosecuted to any great extent. 

 Last year the fish were unfortunately of mixed quality, and the prices 

 ranged from Is. 6d. to 8s. per cwt. The whole of the catch, which 

 amounted to 3000 cwts., taken in these waters, was despatched to 

 market in a fresh state. The quantity cured for the American market 

 was about 2000 barrels, being the largest quantity cured for many 

 years back. Of this total, about three-fourths were cured at Storno- 

 way. 



Cod net fishing was prosecuted from practically all the districts 

 bordering on the Moray Firth from Banff to Wick with a considerable 

 amount of success. The total landings amounted to upwards of 66,000 

 cwts., valued at £24,000, as compared with 32,000 cwts. and £13,900 

 during the previous year. Although the landings in 1912 show a con- 

 siderable increase on the previous year, the individual catches were 

 not so large as in 1910. The principal fishing banks were from 4 to 

 8 miles off Tarbet Ness and Helmsdale. The best catches were obtained 

 in breezy weather and in cloudy waters. Notwithstanding the large 

 quantities which v/ere frequently landed — particularly at a time when 

 the markets were well stocked with trawl fish — remunerative prices 

 were obtained. The average price last year was 7s. 5d. per cwt., 

 while in 1911 it was 8s. Id. The bulk of the catch was despatched in 

 a fresh state to the southern markets — -Glasgow and London princi- 

 pally — but an appreciable quantity was sent to Shetland to be sun- 

 dried, and to Aberdeen to be dried and smoked. 



The sprat fishins:, which in 1910 and 1911 showed signs of improve- 

 ment, again fell off. The total quantity landed was 5597 cwts., as 

 compared with 35,875 cwts. in 1911. The sprat has always been a very 

 uncertain visitor to our coast, and the landings made last season in the 

 Firths of Forth, Tay, and Inverness were the lowest for many years 

 back. 



John Skinner, 

 General Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



Fishery Board for Scotland, 

 Edinburgh, 22nd February, 1913. 



Assistant Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



In the Northern division of Scotland, from Oban to Stornoway on 

 the West Coast, and from Buckie to Shetland on the East, the various 

 fisheries were prosecuted with most encourasingf success in 1912. There 

 was a gfood demand for all kinds of fish, especially for herrinsfs, and prices 

 ruled hi eh. Contrasted with the preceding year, the districts of Stor- 

 noway, Wick, Orkney, and Shetland all exhibit a substantial increase 

 in the quantity and value of herrings landed. In Barra district there 

 was a considerable decrease, but the high prices obtained compensated 

 for the shortage. With a few exceptions, the line fisheries of the 

 various districts were more productive than usual, and much better 

 results were obtained at cod net fishing in the Moray Firth than in the 

 preceding year. Nearly all the fishermen belonging: to the principal 

 places in the Moray Firth continue to devote the whole of their time to 

 herring fishing on the Scottish, English, and Irish coasts, and their 

 gross earnins^s for the year under review were exceedingly his^h. The 

 quality of the herrings was generally good, and favourable weather 

 conditions throughout the summer months enabled the cured article to 



