of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



199 



have ever had in that quarter, and nearly the whole of the local fish- 

 curers have an interest there now. 



All the steam drifters and motor craft belonging to the district were 

 employed at the English herring fishing. Only a small number of sail 

 boats now venture to that fishing, and the number is yearly getting 

 less. The steam drifters and motor boats did remarkably well, and 

 their success in England, taken in conjunction with their earnings in 

 Scotland, made the year one of the most prosperous drift-net fishermen 

 have ever had. Some of the steamers and motor boats tried the early 

 and late herring fishings in Ireland, but their earnings there did little 

 more than pay expenses. 



The quantity of fish caught by lines does not show much variation 

 from the previous year. Cod, ling, saithe, and whiting each show a 

 small increase, while there was a considerably less quantity of haddocks 

 landed. The quantity of cod caught by nets was 1457 cwts., most of 

 which was taken by Gamrie fishermen in their local waters and landed 

 at this port. These fish were all in a spawning condition. 



The line boat ''Maggie Noble" foundered in a gale on 27th February, 

 and the crew of four men were drowned. A fund of close on £1100 

 was subscribed for the widows and orphans. Otherwise there was no 

 serious loss of or damage to boats or gear in the district. 



A considerable loss of fishing gear occurred at the English fishing, 

 caused principally by the nets fouling, or sinking with the weight of 

 fish. It is reported that most of the enormous catch landed at 

 Yarmouth was caught in an area of about 15 miles square. 'J'he loss 

 and damage of gear to local crews at this fishing is estimated at fully 

 £1400, besides a few hundred pounds for damage to vessels. 



The number of whole barrels made in the district was about twenty 

 thousand less than in the former year, while half-barrels show an 

 increase of about the same number. Iron hoops became very scarce 

 during the period of the coal strike, and a considerable number of barrels 

 were made fall-hooped with wooden hoops on the bottom end at that time. 



Twenty-nine cargoes of fishing stock were sent to England, 20 to 

 Shetland, 9 to Orkney, 4 to Stornoway, and 12 cargoes of tinned 

 herrings were despatched to London, while 26 cargoes of fishery salt 

 and 20 cargoes of staves and wooden hoops were imported. 



The teaching of navigation to fishermen is still being carried on at 

 five centres in the district, and a considerable number attend these 

 classes. At an examination in March, eight of these fishermen passed 

 as extra masters, seven as skippers, and one as second hand. Another 

 feature of these evening classes is one for coopers, where they are 

 taught the technicalities of their trade, such as how to fill up shore 

 curing accounts, branding request notes, seasticks, upsets, outcome, 

 averages, and the business of fish-curing generally. The class for 

 teaching cookery to young fishermen is still being carried on. 



The boat-building trade was fairly busy, more especially towards the 

 end of the year. Besides the five steam drifters launched, three others 

 were under construction at the end of the year, and several more have 

 been ordered. 



The harbour extension scheme makes steady progress, the cofferdam 

 having been placed in position, and the new area pumped dry in Sep- 

 tember. Since that time a staff of workmen has been employed 

 deepening and underpinning the walls of what will in future be known 

 as the Station Harbour, which, when completed, will give an addition 

 of ten acres of harbour space. The strengthening of the north break- 

 water ^th a toe block is now almost completed. 



Fishery Office, 

 Fraserburgh. 1th January 1913. 



George Cormack, 



Fishery Officer. 



