9 Appendices to Thirty-eighth Annual Beport 



Bait for the most part was scarce, due largely no doubt to the neglect of 

 mussel beds. 



Although the year's operations on the West Coast may be regarded as 

 satisfactory, yet the earnings of the fishermen fell far short of the previous 

 year. This was chiefly due to the fact that most of the herrings landed 

 were small and of inferior <][uality5 and in consequence realised low prices. 



Walter Duff, 

 General Inspector of Bea Fisheries, 



Fishery Board for Scotland, 



Edinbui^gh, lOth February 1920, 



Assistant Inspector, 



During the year 1919 the various fisheries in the group of districts 

 which extend from Stornoway to Fort-Wilham on the West Coast, and from 

 Banff to Shetland on the North-East Coast, were prosecuted on a more 

 ambitious scale than has been the case since 1914. Taking the season as 

 a whole, the results so far as concerns the catch maybe regarded as fairly 

 satisfactory. The fishermen, however, despite the increased landings, 

 did not fare so well as was generally imagined. The heavy working 

 expenses and the increasing price of all necessary material militated against 

 profit making; consequently 1919 from an earning standpoint may be 

 classed as only a moderate season. 



The total catch of all kinds of white fish landed in the districts under 

 review was 802,289 cwts. more than in 1918. Notwithstanding this 

 substantial augmentation, the value shows a shortage of £445,084 from that 

 of the previous year. This decUne in value may to some extent be attri- 

 buted to the herring catch, which it is interesting to note represents fully 

 70 per cent, of the total catch, for although fair prices were obtained during 

 the year they did not reach the phenonemal figures for 1918, when control 

 was not in operation. 



At the outset the prospects for the year were far from encouraging, and 

 it was feared that owing to the unsatisfactory state of the continental 

 markets and the low rate of exchange there would be no herring fishing. 

 However, with the aid of the Government a guarantee scheme for the 

 benefit of both fishermen and curers was introduced, and the season 

 opened with, considerably brighter prospects. The efiect of making such 

 an early start was seen later on when owing to immature fish preponderating 

 in the catch curers held off and prices in consequence fell. This was re- 

 sented by the fishermen, who discontinued fishing for some httle time until 

 better prices were guaranteed. The general opinion of the trade was that 

 the fishermen were out to catch quantity and not quahty. At all events 

 they continued to use the small meshed nets, and never attempted to 

 regulate supplies by even a moderate reduction in the number of nets 

 employed. 



The most outstanding feature in connection with the means of capture 

 is the continued increase in the number of boats throughout the various 

 districts that have been fitted with motor engines. The "power unit" 

 has indeed become a necessity to both herring and lining fishermen, and 

 to-day the demand is greater than ever. Opinions differ as to whether 

 the motor boom will continue, especially when all the trawling and lining 

 vessels are again fishing, but there is one thirig certain, and that is that 

 the fishermen, who have learned the value and reliability of the auxiliary 

 motor, will never again be totally dependent on sail. 



