of Fishery Board for Scotland. 



24 



and drowned. One small steam vessel was wrecked, but the crew were 

 saved. There was a heavy loss of fishing material, especially trawl gear. 



R. J. DUTHIE, 



Assistant Inspector. 



Fishery Office, 

 Aberdeen, 30th January 1920. 



Peterhead District. 



As regards the fishing industry of this important district, the year 

 under review was one of transition. War-time conditions gradually gave 

 place to those of peace. To its credit the district played no mean part in 

 the great war, and like many others, made great sacrifices in the cause of 

 the Allied Nations. 



During the greater part of the year, men and women who were em- 

 ployed in various capacities on war-work, returned to their former occupa- 

 tions with a wonderful record to their credit. Steam trawlers, steam 

 drifters, and motor craft have been returned to resume their peaceful 

 pursuits. The full complement of steam drifters, however, has not yet 

 been released. 



Generally speaking, the fishermen of the district had a fairly remuner- 

 ative year's work, although their earnings fell far short of those of 1918. 

 Had there been no Government Guarantee Scheme for the East Coast 

 summer herring fishing, and also the East Anglian autumn fishing, the 

 conditions for fishermen and curers would not have been so satisfactory. 



As is customary, the leading fishermen of the district commenced the 

 year by engaging in the West Coast herring fishing. In all 53 steamers 

 and 10 motor drifters were employed, and although their earnings were 

 far short of the preceding year's they were none the less fairly good. 

 Steam vessels had earnings for the season of from £750 to £3500, and motors 

 £400 to £1500. It was customary for steam drifters frequently to land 

 shots taken on the West Coast and Flugga fishing grounds at Peterhead. 



The summer herring fishing was prosecuted from late in May until 

 early in September. Altogether a fleet of from 200 to 210 vessels was 

 employed, the majority of which were propelled by steam or motor power. 

 With a fleet so equipped, the early delivery ot the catches in good condition 

 is assured. Earnings for the various classes of vessels were as follows : — 

 Steam drifters, £650 to £1850 ; motors, £500 to £1400 ; and sailers, £363 to 

 £640. Costly fuel and the high price of labour affected the earnings of 

 vessels considerably. In the consumption of coal economy had to be 

 practised, and in consequence the field of operations was to some extent 

 restricted. For the season the catch was 140,607 crans, valued at £211,551, 

 compared with 56,102 crans and £237,518 in the preceding year. The 

 average price for the season was 30s. Id. per cran, compared with 84s. 8d. 

 in 1918. 



As might be expected, the restoration of the herring industry did not 

 proceed without difficulties being encountered. On two occasions the 

 fishermen ceased operations for a time, as they were dissatisfied with the 

 prices paid for their produce by the curers, who did not always adhere to 

 the minimum price on which the Government Guarantee Scheme was 

 based. 



Curers had various thorny problems to contend with. There was a 

 distinct shortage of all forms of skilled labour. Throughout the greater 

 part of the season considerable difficulty was experienced in getting suffi- 

 cient supplies of salt owing to the imsatisfactory conditions of transport. 

 d 



