25 



Appendices to Thirty-eighth Annual Report 



The kippering and fresliing trades were also adversely affected by the 

 unusual delay whicli occurred in the delivery of goods by the Railway 

 Companies. 



The greatest difficulty which the trade is confronted with at present 

 is the disposal of the herrings cured in pickle. That was most clearly 

 demonstrated at the East Anglian fishing stations. Had there been no 

 Government Guarantee Scheme, the whole industry would have been 

 faced with a crisis. 



During the summer months, the owners of a number of the largest type 

 of steam drifters kept their vessels employed at great-line fishing, which is 

 prosecuted on the distant fishing groimds. Very satisfactory earnings of 

 from £1200 to £4500 were obtained, which were much in excess of those 

 obtained at herring fishing. 



Early in the year regular supplies of white fish were landed at Peter- 

 head by Admiralty vessels which were fitted with otter trawls. Those 

 supplies were readily purchased and dispatched to the southern markets. 

 The controlled prices which then existed provided a good margin of profit 

 for both buyer and seller. 



A local firm had a large-sized drifter fitted out for trawling, and this 

 vessel made frequent landings at Peterhead. It is miderstood that the 

 same firm has recently purchased two more steam trawlers, which are likely 

 to work from the port. 



The East Anglian herring fishing was prosecuted by 119 steam drifters 

 and 14: motors from this district. An unusually stormy season was ex- 

 perienced. The earnings of steamers varied from £800 to £3250, while 

 motors had from £350 to £1050. Herrings were not so abmidant as in 

 former years. Had they been so, fishermen would have done particularly 

 well, as good prices were received. Losses of netting were much above 

 those of an average season. About 50 of the district curers did business 

 at the East Anglian ports. In general the season was not a very profitable 

 one, as fish were bought at the end of the season at too high a price. 



In the course of the year numerous sales and purchases of steam drifters 

 took place, with the result that at the end of the year the number owned 

 in the district was two less than in 1918. Large auxiliary motor drifters 

 are not now in such demand, and consequently the number owned in the 

 district has decreased, as several were sold to other districts. For the 

 prosecution of the line fishing the small motor craft has become popular 

 at Peterhead, and they were increased in number during the year. Very 

 few, however, have been acquired by the fishermen of the small creeks in the 

 district. That may be accounted for by the fact that it is chiefly men 

 advanced in years who pursue the fishing at those creeks. Large sail boats 

 will soon cease to exist in the district. 



The Peterhead Steam Trawling Company have now their whole fleet 

 of 9 vessels again employed at fishing. These all work regularly from 

 Aberdeen, and did so for some years prior to the war. 



The changed conditions prevailing during the year had a material effect 

 upon the prices of fish. The total catch of fish was 2^ times that of 1918, 

 whereas the value was only |ths. 



In the spring fourteen cargoes of Norwegian iced herrings were landed 

 at Peterhead by two importing firms. To one of those firms at least 

 the venture was not a profitable one, and in consequence it was dissolved. 

 Their imports were not well regulated, and frequently met a glutted market, 

 while at the same time the Norwegian fish were in poor demand in the 

 industrial centres. 



Throughout a great part of the year the reconditioning of steam drifters, 

 returned from Admiralty service, provided work for a large number of 

 tradesmen of various classes. 



