S9 Apj)€ndices to Thirty-eighth Anmud Report 



the industry was retarded in many directions owing to shortages of various 

 essentials, it is satisfactory to note that, as regards the statistics of fish 

 landed, the returns for the year 1919 compare not imfavourably with those 

 for the four years preceding the year in which the war commenced : — 





Net and Line 



Fish. 



Shell-Fish. 





Quantity Landed. 



Value. 



Value. 





Cwts. 



£ 



£ 



1919 . 



460,457 



274,340 



3506 



1913 . 



454,480 



233,136 



4016 



1912 . 



641,765 



236,541 



4327 



1911 . 



574,154 



191,343 



4621 



1910 . 



628,487 



171,996 



4402 



From 14th January till the end of February a fleet varying from 20 

 to 45 vessels, of which 3 steam drifters and 13 motor boats were locally 

 o\vned, prosecuted the winter herring fishing, and landed their catches at 

 Wick and Scrabster. The principal fishing grounds lay off the North Coast 

 between Strathy Point and Loch Erribol, and in the latter part of the 

 season, between Cape Wrath and the Butt of Lewis. During the first 

 four weeks of the fishing, south and south-east ^\inds suited the fishing 

 well, and for the small fleet the landings were exceptionally heavy. The 

 herrings were of excellent quahty, and they invariably met with a keen 

 demand, and realised high prices, the average price for the season being 

 85s. 9d. per cran. The total catch amounted to 18,287 crans, and the 

 total value to £78,474. Of the total landings, 7943 crans were kippered, 

 the remainder being disposed of fresh, and practically the whole of the 

 catch was sent to the southern markets, principally London. The gross 

 earnings of the local boats at the winter fishing varied from £828 to £2955, 

 and, in general, the fishing proved a profitable one for both fishermen and 

 buyers. During the season a shortage of railway fish trucks caused anxiety 

 to the trade, and on many occasions the fresh herrings had to be sent to 

 market by express goods train. Buyers on several occasions suffered sharp 

 losses through their consignments on these trains being delayed in transit, 

 and arriving at the market in a deteriorated condition. Early in the 

 season a shortage of carts at Scrabster caused great congestion at the 

 harbour on days when the landings were heavy ; and how to get the fish 

 conveyed to the rail head at Thurso was a serious problem for the buyers. 

 In order to meet the situation, the Naval Authorities for two days lent 

 four of their motor lorries, an action which was much appreciated by the 

 trade. Later some of the buyers were able to engage a traction engine, 

 which, drawing two waggons capable of taking 100 barrels at a time, 

 effectively solved the difficulty. 



The Moray Firth cod-net fishing commenced in the month of January, 

 and was carried on until the second week of April. The results were poor 

 when compared with those of previous years. The unsatisfactory results 

 were caused by a spell of imsettled and stormy weather which began about 

 the middle of February, and lasted up till the end of the season. The total 

 quantity of net-caught cod landed at Wick during the season amounted 

 to 5846 cwts., valued at £12,033, as compared with 13,059 cwts., valued at 

 £44,445, in the year 1918. As a rule the cod landed were of good quality, 

 and they were all sent fresh to the southern markets. The average price 

 was 41s. 2d. per cwt. as against 68s. Id. per cwt. in the year 1918. Ten 

 local crews of motor boats participated in this fishing. These crews had 

 been engaged at the winter herring fishing, and did not commence the cod- 

 net fishing until towards the close of February. Their gross earnings at 

 the cod -net fishing varied from £180 to £700. 



