47 Appendices to Thirty-eighth Anniuil Report 



fell to as low as Is. per stone. It was, therefore, not surprising that 

 fishermen and curers were inclined to take a pessimistic view of the 

 prospects for the season. However, business immediately took a turn 

 for the better, and was satisfactorily maintained until the close of the 

 year. The average earnings of steamers and motor boats were similar 

 to those for the winter fishing, while the saihng boats' average was about 

 £500. The catch shows an improvement of 49 per cent., but the value 

 a depreciation of 14'5 per cent, when compared with the corresponding 

 period of 1918. 



Great-hne fishing in the district is only carried on intermittently. 

 A few steam drifters prosecuted this mode of fishing for a short time 

 between the winter and summer herring fishings, and fair quantities of 

 cod and saithe caught by the " ripper " were landed by these vessels during 

 the first quarter of the year. As much as £20 each per week was earned 

 by some of the men, this being in addition to their ordinary earnings, 

 and caUed " stoker." 



Small and hand lining is of httle account from a commercial point 

 of view, but is a valuable asset to those who fish for their own consumption. 

 Broadbay is the principal fishing ground, and the fishermen hving around 

 its shores derive a fair Hvehhood from its prosecution. The results for 

 the year under review show a very considerable advance on 1918. 



The value of the lobster fishery was very similar to that of the pre- 

 ceding year. 



Barrel-making was again practically non-existent, stocks being brought 

 from the East Coast. 



Lord Leverhulme is constructing roads in various parts of the island, 

 and plenty of employment was available for the occasional fishermen 

 if they had cared to accept this kind of work. It is understood that a 

 number of them took advantage of the opportunity. 



The headquarters of the " Mac " hne of trawlers have been transferred 

 from Stornoway to Fleetwood. The reasons for this are not quite 

 apparent to the casual observer. It is thought by many people that the 

 transfer will be a decided loss to the community of Stornoway from a 

 business point of view. 



While the kippering and freshing branches of the industry are normal, 

 it will evidently be some time before the curing branch becomes so. 

 Trade with America is gradually expanding, and a new market has been 

 discovered in Rumania, to which country a quantity of cured herrings 

 has already been shipped direct, while it is understood that further 

 business is pending as the initial transaction proved a remunerative 

 one. With more settled conditions on the Continent the future of the 

 industry would be well assured. 



The Government guarantee worked satisfactorily, and doubtless the 

 trade are grateful for the aid afforded them in an extremely difficult 

 situation. 



The carriers provided by the Ministry of Food for the transport of 

 fr^h, kippered, etc., herrings to the railway termini on the Mainland 

 during the winter fishing provided an efficient service. 



Strangers coming to Stornoway to take part in the seasonal fishings 

 found great difficulty in securing decent quarters. Numbers of men 

 and women for a time had recourse to sleeping in smoke kilns and other 

 strange places. If something is not done to improve this state of matters 

 workers say they will in future dechne to engage to work at the port. 

 Charges, too, for lodgings are said to be excessive. 



On the whole the inhabitants of Lewis were never so well off 

 pecuniarily, and no one need be idle who cares to work. 



Scarcely a year passes without some loss of hfe in connection with 



