of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



26 



All tlie material necessary for the conduct of the industry, both on sea 

 and land, has advanced in price. Meantime they are from three to four 

 times above the pre-war level. 



At the height of the season the most extensive kippering establishment 

 in Peterhead, and possibly in Scotland, was completely destroyed by fire. 

 It is now being reconstructed and enlarged on modern lines. Aji extensive 

 fire also took place in one of the barrel factories, where some valuable 

 machinery was destroyed. 



Small and hand -line fishing was prosecuted throughout the year upon 

 the inshore grounds with very fair success. Fishermen who worked 

 regularly succeeded in earning a good livelihood. 



For the purposes of their kippering business, an enterprising firm in 

 Peterhead last year erected premises into which they installed cold- 

 storage plant. It is the first cold storage to be established in the district. 



Enlarged and improved harbour accommodation is a question which is 

 now being considered by the Harbour Trust of Peterhead. The works 

 suggested are meant to improve and utilise the existing area to its fullest 

 extent. The cost of the scheme is estimated to be £256,000. A great 

 many of the fishermen of the port are not in favour of the scheme, in so far 

 as it relates to the closing of the north entrance. If carried out, the 

 scheme would extend the existing berthing area considerably, by making 

 the outer ^basin of the North Harbour a useful one. In its present con- 

 dition it is of little service. 



A considerable number of young fishermen attended navigation 

 classes which were arranged for by the Educational Authority at the slack 

 periods between the different fishing seasons. 



No loss of life took place during the year in connection with the 

 operations of the fishing fleet belonging to the district, nor were any vessels 

 wrecked or seriously damaged. Considerable loss of netting was incurred 

 on the East Anglian coast through stormy weather, sunken wrecks, and 

 congestion on the fishing grounds. 



James Ritchie, 



Fishery Officer, 



Fishery Office, 

 Peterhead, bih January 1920. 



Fraserburgh District. 



The returns of fish landed in this district for the year 1919 show that 

 the total catch exceeded that of the preceding year by no less than 367,092 

 cwts., or 76 per cent., while the total value shows a falling off of £191,184, 

 or over 32 per cent. The large increase in the catch and also the greater 

 part of the falling off in value is referable to herrings, which accounted for 

 about 95 per cent, of the total landings. An increased catch and lower 

 prices were anticipated when the majority of the fishermen resumed their 

 pre-war occupation, but it was hardly expected that the average price of 

 herrings would so soon fall to a figure approximating to pre-war level. 

 With the large increase in working expenses and cost of fishing material, 

 fishermen, so far as the summer herring fishing was concerned, experienced 

 an unremunerative season. The other branches of the fisheries in which, 

 most of the district fishermen participated yielded fair results. Com- 

 pared with that for 1913, the last complete pre-war year, the catch for 1919 

 shows an increase of 199,413 cwts. in quantity and £71,821 in value. 



Considerable changes are apparent in the composition of the district 

 fleet of fishing vessels. The steam drifters belonging to the district 

 which were lost while on Admiralty service have not yet been replaced. 



