62 



Appendices to Fortieth Annual Report 



Owing to the critical condition of the herring industry an unusually 

 large number of fishermen were compelled to devote their whole 

 attention to small and hand-line fishing in conjunction with other minor 

 fisheries conducted on the inshore grounds along the East Coast. By 

 strict perseverance they did remarkably well in some districts, and 

 tided over what was to many a very difficult year. In some districts, 

 however, these fishings bring only a very bare livelihood to those 

 engaged. 



Lobster fishing was in general fairly successful, and in most of the 

 districts where it is extensively prosecuted the landings were in excess 

 of those of the previous year, although owing to a general falling off in 

 prices the increased catch did not realise a correspondingly high value. 

 In some of the more remote districts where there is a lack of good 

 transport, lobsters are the only produce of the sea that can be marketed 

 to advantage, as they are light and compact for their value and can 

 be kept alive and fed for some time until a marketable quantity 

 is obtained. 



During the last quarter of the year the Danish seine net, which to 

 Scottish fishermen was an entirely new mode of capture, was adopted 

 and used extensively by Moray Firth crews. The results obtained 

 varied greatly. Some crews met with considerable success, while 

 others failed to make the method remunerative. The season of the 

 year when work was commenced was perhaps not too advantageous, as 

 daylight, good weather conditions and smooth ground are all essential 

 to ensure success. The field of operations is naturally limited. No 

 doubt this mode of fishing will be well tested before the close of 

 another year. 



James Ritchie, 



Edinburgh, 2\st February 1922. Inspector of Sea Fisheries.^ 



Eyemouth. — From a monetary point of view the fisheries of this 

 District for the year proved a comparative failure to most concerned. 

 Notwithstanding the efforts put forth, most of the crews found it difficult, 

 and in many cases impossible, to keep themselves free from debt. 



Fishing operations were carried on by District crews at places as far 

 apart as Stranraer and Stornoway on the west coast and Yarmouth and 

 Lowestoft on the east. 



By the first week of the year 9 steam drifters had proceeded to the 

 herring fishing at Stornoway, where they met with but indifferent results 

 for the few weeks they were engaged. 



Towards the middle of January, herrings were located between May 

 Island and St. Abbs Head, and a successful fishing was carried on from 

 Eyemouth till the middle of March. The number of heavy shots 

 landed was exceptional for the season of the year, and some of the crews 

 did remarkably well. The total landings amounted to 7734 crans valued 

 at £14,076. 



The summer herring fishing proved most unsatisfactory to fishermen 

 and curers alike. Operations commenced at Eyemouth and North 

 Shields in the second week of May, and soon after at the other stations 

 on the Northumberland coast. The fleet engaged for the first few 

 weeks was principally composed of motor boats, as most of the local 

 steamers were at that time employed in great-line fishing. A number 

 of English steam drifters arrived at North Shields by the beginning of 

 June, after which the fleet gradually increased, ultimately reaching a 

 total of 120 steamers and 58 motor boats for the District. Herrings were 

 scarce and " spotty " and of poor quality throughout the season, which 



