1$ Appendices to Thirty-eighth Annual Report 



months by Crail fishermen, who consign most of their shell fish to London. 

 It appears the fish were frequently delayed either in transit or at the 

 terminus, and consequently arrived at the market in stale condition. 



Local enterprise is still very much alive, as is evidenced by the fact that 

 a company has been formed at Anstruther for the purpose of engaging 

 •in the building and repairing of fishing vessels. Whenever the necessary 

 arrangements have been completed it is the intention to proceed with the 

 erection of a patent slip at the head of the new harbour. Buildings are 

 also to be acquired for conversion into workshops. This should be a 

 decided acquisition to the district, and will greatly facilitate the repairing 

 of fishing craft. 



The completion of this, the first year's efforts towards the reconstruction 

 of the fishing industry, has given those interested a more hopeful outlook 

 for the future. The prosperity of the district may really be said to stand 

 or fall by the results attending the prosecution of the herring fishing. As 

 the time approached for the usual summer season to open the situation 

 appeared none too bright, and a real anxiety existed as to the course of 

 events. It was then that the decision of the Government to support the 

 industry was announced, and a stability was given to the industry which 

 undoubtedly saved it from total collapse. The introduction of the 

 guarantee scheme was greatly appreciated by all sections of the fishing 

 industry, and, although not so comprehensive as some would have wished, 

 it was considered on the whole a decided success. 



James Wood, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Anstruther, 8^^ January 1920. 



Montrose District. 



With the cessation of hostilities and the gradual release of fishing vessels 

 and fishermen from their naval and military duties, the various branches 

 of the fishing industry in this district were prosecuted with increased 

 power and energy during the year mider review. A fair comparison of the 

 results with former, and particularly with pre-war, years can scarcely 

 be made, as circumstances, both in means of capture and market values 

 of the catch, have greatly changed, and have placed the industry on an 

 entirely new financial basis. During the war period fewer boats were 

 employed, and these were under restrictions which limited their catching 

 power considerably. But at the same time prices for fish soared to a great 

 height until control was established, and although the cost ot boats and 

 fishing gear increased, a large margin of profit was left for the fishermen. 

 With the increased catching power available through the demobilisation 

 of vessels and 'personnel, and a reduction in the control prices, the earnings 

 of fishermen began to wane, and this was very much aggravated by the 

 scarcity and increasing prices of all fishing gear and labour necessary for the 

 carrying on of the fishing. These circumstances were felt very keenly by 

 those men who had been on service. Many of them had, for various 

 reasons, to sell their gear, while others found it had deteriorated to such 

 an extent during their absence that they could not use it. Matters were 

 not made any easier for those men by the great change that had come over 

 the fishing fleet since 1913. In 1913 practically half of the total line- 

 caught fish was landed by sail boats, whereas in 1919 the proportion fell 

 to one twenty-second part, and concurrently line -caught fish increased in 

 quantity from 24,053 cwts. to 66,100 cwts., which meant that very few 

 sail boats were regularly in use, and the fishermen had to adapt themselves 



