182 



Appendices to Thirty-first Armtial Report 



II. — East Coast. 



Eyemouth District. 



From a financial point of view, the year 1912 was a successful one for 

 fishermen, their combined earnings at the home, English, and Irish 

 herring fishings being considerably above those for 1911. For curers 

 the home fishing was unsuccessful, as most of them incurred losses more 

 or less heavy, though not at all to be compared with those of 1911. 

 The losses were due to the small number of barrels cured, as all the 

 sales were satisfactory, but the profits were not sufiicient to cover the 

 expenses. Those curers who went to Yarmouth and Lowestoft had a 

 most successful season, and more than recovered their losses on the 

 home fishing. Line fishing was a partial failure. The district returns 

 exhibit decreases of 30,294 cwts. in quantity, and £2883 in value, from 

 the previous year, of which line fish were responsible for 3502 cwts. and 

 £2352. 



In the English section of the district the number of herring boats 

 is yearly becoming less, and owing to the backward state of the line 

 fishing a number of fishermen have left the district. In the Scottish 

 section, several boats of the first class were laid aside as useless, and 

 the tendency is to dispense with all the herring boats which are not 

 suitable for motor engines. One motor boat was purchased, and four 

 others had motor engines installed, while the motor drifter was sold to 

 Ireland. The motor fleet now numbers 36 herring boats and 1 small 

 line boat of 25 feet keel. Orders have also been placed for four other 

 motor engines to be installed, and it is expected that two steam drifters 

 will be added to the fleet. There were slight decreases in netting and 

 lines. Additional landing facilities are to be provided at Berwick. 

 Blyth has added largely to its trawling fleet. About 25 trawlers from 

 North Shields and Blyth were provided with herring trawl-nets, and 

 landed a total of 7340 crans. 



For the fifth season in succession the winter herring fishing was a 

 failure, the earnings for the three months being only about £12 per 

 man. 



The summer herring fishing, which opened early in May at North 

 Shields and Eyemouth, was attended with very moderate success all 

 through the season, and at no time was there what could be called a 

 good day's fishing. The shortness of the catch was no doubt partly 

 attributable to the fleet numbering about 50 less than in 1911, many of 

 the crews being attracted by the excellent fishing obtained in the North 

 of Scotland and at Shetland. The average catch per boat was about 

 580 crans, as compared with 640 in 1911. It may be noticed that the 

 features of the last two seasons were in direct contrast. In 1911 the 

 weather was extremely hot, with fish plentiful, but of miserable quality, 

 whereas last season was cold, with fish scarce, but of excellent quality. 

 Possibly the losses of 1911 made the curers over-cautious in beginning 

 the early cure, notwithstanding that the herrings were 

 of good quality and of a keepable nature, and by 

 the end of July only 4100 barrels were in cure, 

 as compared with 32,400 at the same date in the previous year. Owing 

 to the small quantity cured the expenses per barrel were high — in some 

 cases 13s. — so that, notwithstanding good sales, many of the curers 

 finished the season with a debit balance. There was a keen demand 

 for the cured article, and consequently prices for fresh fish advanced 

 sharply. The highest price — 65s. per cran — was paid at North Shields, 

 but even for curing prices rose to 38s. The average for the season wa§ 



