20 



Fortieth Annual Report 



was only 17,353 cwts., as compared with 133,857 cwts. in the 

 previous year, as owing to the lack of demand practically all the 

 1920 produce was still on hand. 



The 35,126 cwts. of herrings made into bloaters or reds were for 

 the most part herrings pickled ungutted at East Anglia and 

 subsequently smoked at Aberdeen. 



Considerable quantities of herrings sprinkled in ice and salt were 

 sent to several of the German and French ports and realised fair 

 prices when supplies were scarce, but the return received on moat 

 occasions was not encouraging. 



Four Swedish firms were engaged during the summer in the 

 u spicing " of herrings at Lerwick, two ashore and two afloat. One 

 of the firms caught their own herrings, but the others depended on 

 local landings. Powdered salt, sugar, spices and bay leaves were 

 U3ed in the spicing process, and the fish were put into barrels and 

 exported to Sweden, where they were subsequently tinned for con- 

 sumption in that country. The quantity dealt with amounted to 

 2168 barrels. 



Owing to the unremunerative results of curing operations during 

 the winter and summer herring fishings in Scotland, the usual 

 autumn exodus of curers and their employees to East Anglia was on 

 a considerably smaller scale than in normal years. As the fishing- 

 was light the number of barrels cured was less than usual, but, 

 owing to a further fall in the German exchange, it appeared at first 

 as though it would not be possible to dispose of even the limited 

 quantity cured except at a heavy loss. The demand, however, 

 improved later, but prices were very unremunerative. 



Particulars of the quantities and selections of cured herrings 

 accepted under the Crown brand are detailed in Table E. — No. L 

 (p. 128). The brand, which had been largely in abeyance since 1913, 

 owing at first to the interruption of the Continental trade and in 

 1919 and 1920 to the operation of the guarantee schemes, was again 

 in fair demand during the year. 



CHAPTER IV. 



FISHERIES OTHER THAN HERRING. 

 1. General. 



The total quantity of demersal* fish landed in Scotland in 1921 

 amounted to 2,698,496 cwts., valued at £3,753,329, as compared 

 with 3,069,415 cwts., valued at £4,238,032 in 1920. Details will 

 be found in Table B. — No. II. (pp. 56-119). The average price per 

 cwt. over all was 27s. 10d., as against 27s. 7d. in 1920. 



The decrease in landings as compared with 1920 is wholly 

 attributable to trawling, the produce of w T hich fell off by 23 per cent. 



* I.e., fish which live and feed mainly near the sea bottom, thus excluding 

 herrings, sprats, sparlings and mackerel. 



