of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



215 



view, the season was a most profitable one till about the end of July. 

 In August rough weather interrupted the fishing week after week, and 

 hastened the departure of the steam drifters. A steadily-decreasing 

 fleet of local sail boats continued fishing till late autumn, but their 

 operations were greatly hindered by the stormy weather. 



There was a welcome revival of the fishing in Scalloway Bight and St. 

 Magnus Bay, and the herrings got in these waters were 

 of excellent quality. The quantity landed at Scalloway 

 was more than double and the value almost four times 

 as much as in 1911. As a result, all the available 

 curing ground in Scalloway has been taken in preparation for next 

 season. Thirteen curing stations were opened at Baltasound, and 

 there were about 100 boats fishing, mostly under engagements, at prices 

 ranging from 15s. to 20s. per cran — the rates rising weekly — and 

 generally £10 of bounty for sail boats and £20 for steam drifters. 

 Herrings were apparently rather scarce on the usual Balta grounds, 

 and the catch for the whole season was under 18,000 crans. This could 

 not be regarded as indicating a profitable season either for fishermen 

 or curers. At Whalsay, Hoswick, Levenwick, and Grutness the local 

 fishermen did very well during the first two months of the season, but 

 from the beginning of August onwards they were handicapped by un- 

 favourable weather, and at the close of the season it was found that the 

 average earnings of the local sail boats were not so good as in 1911. 



A good many fortunate crews had from £500 to about £700, but 

 others had from £300 downwards, and the average for the district may 

 be estimated at £380. Although the steam drifters left the district 

 earlier than usual, they had, as a rule, an exceptionally good season. 

 The best English drifter had over £1700, several Moray Firth crews 

 had from £1500 to £1600, and a number from £1000 to £1400, most 

 of which had been earned in Shetland ; £950 might be quoted as a fair 

 average for steamers that worked the whole season, or about £100 more 

 than in 1911. 



Shetland-cured herrings continue to give general satisfaction in the 

 Continental markets, and the demand seems to be increasing yearly, 

 especially from Russia, which now takes by far the greater part of the 

 district cure. Markets were rising steadily, and curers had a profitable 

 season till about the end of July. In August, however, scarcity of 

 herrings and consequent keen competition forced up prices and 

 rendered the remainder of the season unremunerative. Almost without 

 exception, curers disposed of their cured herrings as soon as they were 

 ready for shipment," so stocks on hand at the end of the season were 

 very small. The failure of the fishing in August led to a decrease in 

 the number of barrels presented for the Crown Brand ; but branded 

 herrings were in great demand, Crown La Fulls being quoted at 41s. to 

 42s. per barrel from the middle of August onwards, or about 3s. per 

 barrel above ordinary unbranded fish. 



A Lerwick fishing vessel was fitted out for curing, and, in addition to 

 quantities landed and sold fresh, the crew cured 630 barrels at sea. A 

 Norwegian curer came to Lerwick in June, and cured between 500 and 

 600 barrels on board a steamer. Eight small Scandinavian vessels — 

 motor boats and sailing craft — came later in the season, and their crews 

 cured upwards of a thousand barrels of mackerel which they bought 

 from British fishermen. Local fish-curers also cured a few hundred 

 barrels of mackerel. 



Two small steamers were employed for the first two months of the 

 season carrying roused herrings to Hamburg, and nearly 5000 crans 

 were thus exported. Two large Leith steamers traded reg:ularly 

 between Lerwick and Hamburg all through the season, and these 

 vessels proved a great convenience to curers and merchants. 



