of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



23 



result of the protracted coal dispute. Financial results were most 

 discouraging, owing on the one hand to the high level of working 

 expenses, accentuated during and after the coal dispute, and on the 

 other to the comparatively low wholesale prices for fish ruling 

 throughout the year. Prices it is true were on the whole slightly 

 better than in 1920, and expenses latterly were falling, so that 

 prospects improved ; but at the same time trawlers' earnings were 

 even poorer than in 1920, and it is estimated that at least a third of 

 the fleet failed to clear expenses. The catches taken on the nearer 

 grounds in the North Sea were of inferior quality, containing 

 throughout the year a large proportion of small haddocks and 

 whitings, which, except when supplies where short, never realised 

 remunerative prices and not infrequently proved unsaleable. In the 

 latter part of the year this want of success was partially redeemed 

 by good takes of lemon soles, which species as an exception shows a pro- 

 nounced increase in the trawl landings as compared with 1920. Long 

 voyage trawlers suffered especially from the heavy expenditure incurred 

 for fuel, etc., while they derived little or no benefit from the better 

 prices obtained in the more unsettled weather, as owing to the 

 prolongation of their voyage at such times their expenses were 

 increased and their catches landed in inferior condition. 



Comparatively few trawlers visited Faroe or Iceland. During 

 the spring and early summer months, when fishing in those waters is 

 usually most remunerative, the enhanced prices then prevailing were 

 in many cases insufficient to offset the heavy expenditure 

 on coal due to the dispute. At that time vessels which were 

 fortunate in making quick trips realised good earnings, but others 

 incurred losses, especially towards the end of the period, when prices 

 of fish fell. 



The total landings of white fish by steam trawlers amounted to 

 1,765,336 cwts. valued at £2,461,576, against 2,290,628 cwts. and 

 £3,041,332 in 1920. In addition motor trawlers landed 1546 cwts. 

 valued at £5093,and sailing trawlers, which work only from Annan, 2014 

 cwts. valued at £2014. The motor and sail landings consisted 

 chiefly of plaice. Of the total quantity landed by steam trawlers 74 

 per cent, was landed at Aberdeen, 22 per cent, at Granton, 4 per 

 cent, at Dundee (including a few landings at Montrose), and the 

 balance of less than | per cent, at Peterhead, Buckie and various other 

 ports. 



A number of trawlers of the drifter type, owned by share fisher- 

 men belonging chiefly to Moray Firth ports, worked from their home 

 ports or from Aberdeen, but with no great success. During the year 

 trawling for white fish was probably more profitable than herring 

 fishing, but the future prospects of this type in more normal con- 

 ditions are doubtful. 



3. Great Lining. 



Great line fishing, like trawling, is based chiefly on the port of 

 Aberdeen, where during the year 88 per cent, of the total catch 

 by steam line vessels was landed. The other centres from which 

 great lining is conducted, although more intermittently, are prin- 

 cipally Oban and Mallaig, with Campbeltown and Stranraer, on the 



