of the, Fishery Board for Scotland. 



6 



in the number of Scottish fishing boats equipped with motor engines. 

 How rapid the advance has been is shown by the fact that in 1913, the 

 year before the war, there were only 523 motor boats on the register. 

 Now the number is 1751, an increase of 1228. Of these 414 have been 

 added since 1918. 



The fact that many drifters and trawlers have still to be reconditioned, 

 and that vessels of the most modem type and new methods of working 

 are now engaging the attention of large combines and capitahsts, proves 

 undoubtedly that the catching power is not yet at anything Hke its full 

 strength. The country may, therefore, look forward with confidence 

 to an increase in the fish supphes in the year 1920. The danger is that 

 unless facilities for distribution and marketing are adequate, prices may 

 fall to such a level that fishermen will not find it profitable to pursue their 

 calhng owing to the great cost of production. 



With regard to the home markets, they were greatly developed during 

 the war, and it is safe to state that the consumption of all kinds of fish is 

 increasing. Evidence of this is to be found in the large number of kipper- 

 ing estabhshments which have been erected during the last two or three 

 years, and which send out large supphes of kippered herring all over the 

 country. Increased consumption is also due to the development of a 

 retail fish trade in towns and inland centres where, previous to the war, 

 fish was seldom seen. This increasing demand for fish was due in the 

 first instance to the scarcity of other food supplies inevitable in war, and 

 it now continues because the value of fish as food has been recognised. 

 This home demand, it is confidently hoped, will still further develop and 

 increase to such a degree that the problem of markets will be partly solved. 

 The transport question is, however, a very difficult one. The use of motor 

 vans might be made very effective. It is interesting in this connection 

 to find that one of the energetic young fish merchants of Aberdeen has got 

 six motor vans for conveying fish to inland centres for distribution among 

 wholesale and retail firms. This distribution system ought to be developed 

 in districts which are away from the main railway hne, and it is under- 

 stood that certain firms have schemes to this end in contemplation. Pro- 

 posals have been made to estabhsh motor fleets of specially designed 

 vans, which will make regular journeys to country villages and localities 

 where fish is more or less scarce. 



With regard to the trawling branch of the industry, as already stated, 

 the only serious setback from which it suffered was due to labour troubles. 

 The loss and dislocation of business caused thereby cannot well be esti- 

 mated. Fish merchants made every endeavour to maintain their trade 

 connections, with consignments from towns and villages along the 

 coast, while haddocks and plaice came even from Ymuiden via 

 Harwich and London. Enghsh trawhng ports as weU as small-hne 

 fishermen therefore profited by this stoppage -of fishing at Aberdeen and 

 Granton. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the total quantity and 

 value of fish landed bv trawlers show an increase of 906,939 cwts. and 

 £814,452 over the year 1918. 



Since the end of the war some fishing companies and private trawl 

 owners have sold out owing probably to the uncertainties of the industry, 

 but tempted also by the greatly enhanced prices for fishing vessels. The 

 interests of one of the most important companies at Aberdeen — The 

 Aberdeen Steam Trawling and Fishing Company — were acquired by the 

 Mac Fisheries Company, but as yet the business of this new company has 

 been conducted at Aberdeen without any change. 



A feature of the year was the greatly enhanced prices at which vessels 

 were sold. For instance, a trawler built in 1915 was advanced from the 

 first cost of £8200 to £18,000, and a 1916 trawler which was built for 



