of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



179 



the summer months by a comparatively small fleet. For July and 

 August alone 27,367 crans were accounted for, at an average price of 

 34s. per cran., as compared with 16s. per cran for 16,963 crans caught 

 during the first quarter of the year. 



A small portion of the catch was kippered, and for these there was a 

 good demand in the English markets. As usual, the bulk of the catch 

 was cured for exportation to the Continent and America. In the early 

 part of the year the poorer class of fish generally sold on the spot at 

 from 20s. to 23s. per barrel. As the season advanced, and the quality 

 improved, prices gradually rose to 45s. per barrel for large, 35s. for 

 medium, and 30s. for mattie. 



Over 80,000 cwts. of various kinds of white fish and mackerel were 

 landed in the district. About one-fourth of these consisted of ling, at 

 an average price of 6s. 6d. per cwt. Cod averaged 5s. 6d., haddocks 

 7s. 5d., conger eel 7s., skate 3s. 4d., saithe 2s. 8d., and mackerel 2s. A 

 small portion of the ling, cod, and saithe was cured for exportation. 

 Small lots were occasionally forwarded to the mainland, but the bulk of 

 the catch was consumed by the islanders. 



In Shetland district the summer herring fishing was prosecuted with 

 good success from the beginning of May to the close of July. It failed 

 in the first week in August ; thereafter the fleet rapidly dispersed for the 

 East Coast and English stations. In the preceding year the fishing was 

 most successful in June, a partial failure in July, and a success in 

 August. To fishermen the average price was 26s. 4d. per cran, being 

 an increase of fully 5s. per cran on the year's catch of 398,000 crans. 

 The catching and curing power was stronger than hitherto. The 

 number of steam drifters engaged during the busiest part of the season 

 varied from 439 to 516, sail boats 170 to 200, and motor boats 3 to 6. Of 

 the season's catch, 87.8 per cent, was landed by steam, 12.00 by sail, 

 and 0.2 by motor. Nearly all the leading Scottish fish-curing firms 

 are now established at Lerwick on stations constructed by themselves 

 at an expenditure of from £1000 to £3000. Two of these firms have 

 also erected extensive factories in which over 138,000 barrels and 37,500 

 half-barrels were made during the year. Of the season's catch, 18,000 

 crans were landed at Baltasound, as compared with 22,000 crans in 

 1911. Efforts were again made with indifferent success to revive this 

 early-established station, where so much valuable property is going to 

 waste. Boats were engaged to fish from Baltasound during May and 

 June at a fixed rate of from 12s. to 17s. per cran, with from £10 to £20 

 bounty. Much higher prices were, however, realised by unengaged 

 boats fishing from Lerwick, and it is not expected that fishermen 

 will again readily fish at fixed rates. 



Here, as elsewhere, the tendency is for concentration of the industry, 

 and the number of out-stations is gradually being reduced. Small fleets 

 of district sail boats operated from Whalsay, Sandwick, and Scalloway, 

 and in the early part of the season, when herrings were plentiful on the 

 inshore grounds, good results were obtained. Later on they were less 

 successful, and their earnings for the season varied from £300 to £500 

 per boat. The Scottish sail boats fishing from Lerwick met with 

 similar success. The steam vessels got oftener to sea, and fished 

 remarkably well, especially during the month of July, when the 

 herrings were at the greatest distance from land. In general, their 

 earnings ranged from £900 to £1000, several grossed from £1400 to 

 £1700, and several companies averaged from £1150 to £1200 per 

 vessel. 



^ Of the season's catch, over 477,000 barrels were cured for exporta- 

 tion, 8000 crans kippered for the home markets, and 6000 crans freshed, 

 chiefly to Hamburg. From the beginning to the close of the seJison 



