24 



Fortieth Annual Report 



West Coast, and Wick, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Montrose and New- 

 haven on the East. The vessels which work on the more distant 

 grounds, and which of recent years have had much the best results, 

 are large sized steamers comparable with the largest trawlers. 

 Halibut is the principal object of their operations, although incident- 

 ally other kinds of fish, chiefly cod and skate, are taken in large 

 quantities. In the North Sea vessels of the herring drifter type fish 

 for cod, and on the nearer grounds off the West Coast for cod and 

 for conger eels, ling, roker and hake. Great lining is also occasionally 

 followed by large or medium sized motor boats off the East Coast and 

 in the Firth of Clyde. 



In the statistical tables appended landings by great liners are 

 not separately distinguished, but the great bulk of the catch is 

 landed by steam vessels. The landings by such vessels show an in- 

 crease on the previous year's catch, corresponding to the larger 

 fleet at work. Liners which were converted for trawling during 

 the war had all been refitted for lining by 1921 ; while more 

 drifters than usual followed line fishing on account of the 

 difficulties confronting herring fishing. In addition some 30 

 trawlers were temporarily equipped as liners during the summer 

 months. On the whole results were less successful than in 

 1920, largely owing to the interruption and increased expenditure 

 caused by the coal dispute. The total quantity of halibut taken by 

 line during the year constituted a record, and the value, as in 1920, 

 represented more than half the total value of the steam line catch. 

 The chief halibut grounds were off the Faroes, Ptockall and St. Kilda, 

 and on Lousy Bank. The grounds off the west of Ireland, where in 

 1920 splendid shots were obtained, could not be fished at the height 

 of the 1921 season owing to the prevalence of dog fish. A few very 

 successful Iceland trips made late in the season by a large liner are 

 likely to be followed up this year by other vessels of the same type. 



Operations in the North Sea were begun in March and extended 

 as herring bait became available. The fishing was continued with fair 

 results until July, when the incursion of shoals of dog fish caused the 

 fishermen to cease operations. Most of the vessels engaged, although 

 belonging to other ports, worked from Aberdeen, where they are assured 

 of a regular market. Some 20 drifters and a few motor boats belonging 

 to Eyemouth District worked from North Shields from about April, 

 at first with great success, but the expenses of the long trips to the 

 grounds in the North Sea on which they were operating were found 

 too heavy when catches fell off, and the fishing was abandoned in 

 May. 



4. Small and Hand Lining. 



Fishing by means of small and hand lines, which had shown a 

 slight decline from the activity of war time, recovered to some 

 extent during the year. This was, however, not due to any con- 

 spicuous success attained, — as often only a bare living could be 

 earned by these methods of fishing, while the work involved in 

 baiting lines is laborious both to the fishermen themselves and to 

 their families, — but to the fact that line fishing could be counted on 

 to yield a steady if meagre return, and to many of the fishermen in 

 present circumstances this is becoming a first consideration. The 



