of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



193 



in value, as contrasted with the figures for 1911. Cod shows a decrease 

 of 103,235 cwts., and haddocks 35,439 cwts., while whitings, saithe, 

 skate, gurnards, and monks show an increase of 6137 cwts. The most 

 successful months in the year were March, April, November, and 

 December, and the most successful vessel grossed £6744 for the year. 

 In the catches from the North Sea grounds, small haddocks generally 

 preponderated, but from October to the end of the year splendid catches 

 of large haddocks were secured in the vicinity of the Dogger and Fisher 

 Banks, which have been for years unprolific, and consequently seldom 

 fished. The north-western grounds again yielded poor catches of 

 haddocks, and on the Noup Head deep-water area supplies of cod and 

 megrims were extremely poor. The quantity of hake landed in July 

 was unprecedented. Flat fish of all kinds were very scarce, and show 

 decreased landings, with the exception of witches and megrims. The 

 landing of shots of very small plaice in November was greatly deplored 

 by the trade, who consider that it ought to be prohibited. Some 

 trawlers are reported to be using a chain attached to their ground rope 

 as a tickler " to stir up the flat-fish from the bottom, and on certain 

 grounds it is said to be very effective. The average price realised for 

 all kinds of fish was lis. 4 id. per cwt., against 9s. 9Jd. per cwt. in 

 1911. Owing to the good demand for fish, no trawlers were laid up 

 in summer, and the quantity of fish sold for manure was compara- 

 tively small compared with 1911. Trawling for herrings was carried 

 on in the North Sea for a time in October, but on account of non- 

 paying results the majority of the vessels made only two or three 

 voyages and resumed ordinary trawling. The venture, generally, is 

 too speculative, and not likely to develop to any great 

 extent at this port. The best-fished vessels landed their 

 catches at Altona, where they received excellent prices. 

 The total catch landed at Aberdeen was 1533 crans, 

 against 4414 crans in 1911. Prices ranged from 12s. 6d. to 52s. per 

 cran, according to condition and size of fish. The quality was not quite 

 so good as in the previous year, the fish being softer and showing 

 longer dragging. The experiment made with a special herring trawl 

 designed to fish at any depth of water was not a success. The fishing 

 ground frequented was from 150 to 170 miles S.E. and S.E. by S. from 

 Aberdeen. 



The Faroe fishing was prosecuted with very moderate success, and 

 the general opinion prevails that this fishing is not worth pursuing on 

 account of the prolongation of voyages by stormy weather, and unsatis- 

 factory catches. The bulk of the catch from Faroe now consists of 

 codlings, and the quantity of flat fish, which used to be the leading 

 feature, has fallen off. The catch shows an increase of 27,779 cwts. 

 in quantity and £22,476 in value, but there were 103 more arrivals 

 than in 1911. 



Regarding the Iceland fishing, the great bulk of the fish from that 

 locality was landed by foreign vessels, chiefly Germans. This fishing 

 was entirely spoiled for the local vessels in spring owing to the coal 

 strike making it impossible for them to work at a profit on account of 

 the high price of fuel. The Germans, however, continued the fishing, 

 and made good earnings. The season's catch was 428,819 cwts. and 

 £125,815 for 436 arrivals, against 444,583 cwts. and £103,952 for 383 

 arrivals in 1911. The landings of fish by foreign trawlers exceed the 

 preceding year's catch by 114,882 cwts. in quantity and £46,373 in 

 value, with 72 more arrivals, which constitutes a record year. Eleven 

 Faroese smacks landed 14,448 cwts. of fish, valued at £5418. A com- 

 pany has been floated at Hamburg for drying fish by electro-chemical 

 means, The work^ are erected at Oxstedt, «ear Cujchc^veuj ^rQ - 



