46 



Appendices to Thirty-eighth Annual Report 



July and early August herrings were of exceptionally good quality, a 

 large proportion consisting of well developed fish. Curing operations 

 were occasionally retarded for want of salt, and the scarcity of gutters 

 and packers was also felt to some extent. 



All the curers safeguarded themselves by accepting the terms of the 

 Grovernment guarantee, but many had a latent hope that they would be 

 able to dispose of their stocks by private means. Fishermen were not 

 paid quite the maximum aimed at in the Government scheme, the com- 

 paratively heavy landings and the limited resources at the disposal of 

 curers, as also the hope of effecting a clearance of stocks by ordinary 

 methods tending to depress prices for fresh herrings. The grading of 

 cured herrings worked smoothly, and the new branding regulations fitted 

 the situation well. 



Of the total cure of 154,652 barrels, 56,278 barrels were handed over 

 to the Government. The American market absorbed 23,000 barrels of 

 matjes, la. fulls, and fulls at remunerative rates. Seventy-five thousand 

 barrels chiefly of early cures were sold to dealers for shipment 

 to the continental markets at prices approximating to the Govern- 

 ment rates. The average prices paid for fresh herrings were, May 24s., 

 June 20s., July 35s., and August (when spents predominated) 16s. lOd. 

 per cran, the average price for the season being 26s. 4d. per cran. The 

 season would have been highly remmierative to the district fishermen 

 but for the early appearance of spents in August. Even with that un- 

 fortunate happening the crews of many sailing boats grossed from £600 

 to £1300. Large motor boats grossed from £1600 to £2800, and steam 

 drifters from £2000 to £2800. 



The winter herring fishing was neglected, and spring was well advanced 

 before any attempts were made on the usually prolific northern grounds 

 off Flugga. Fishermen knew that there would only be a limited demand 

 for kippering purposes, and that a very small fleet would keep the market 

 supplied. 



The company which has the monopoly of the ordinary transport 

 trade of the islands improved its service to Aberdeen during the summer 

 months. Two steamers sailed direct from Lerwick weekly and one from 

 the west side. Curers were able to place consignments of kippered and 

 sprinkled herrings on the southern markets in good condition. 



So far as the conveyance of fish by road from the outlying parts of the 

 district is concerned, there are meantime sufficient motor lorries in Lerwick 

 to deal with a larger amount oi traffic. Whalsay and Skerries fishermen 

 are gradually acquiring second-class motor boats, and if fishermen at 

 other northern parts were to follow their example, the question of trans- 

 port of fish to centres for despatch south would practically be solved. 

 So long, however, as crofting and fishing go hand in hand line fishing 

 cannot be developed to the fullest extent. 



Line fishing continued to be of subsidiary interest. Great-line fishing 

 could be prosecuted to greater advantage even though the catches of cod, 

 ling, etc., were wet-salted and sold in that condition by the fishermen. 

 Wet-salted cod, etc., to the value of £9874 were imported from Faroe 

 and dried in kilns at Lerwick. 



Although the earnings of motor boats at line fishing were not so high 

 as in recent years, still they were sufficient to warrant a further expansion 

 in this direction. 



Shetland crofter fishermen were perhaps less affected by war con- 

 ditions than the majority of regular fishermen on any part of the Scottish 

 coast. They were always able to prosecute herring fishing, and the 

 produce from the crofts also jaelded a better return. The women made 

 good earnings knitting Shetland goods. 



