of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



63 



was brought to a close in the second week of September, although quite 

 a number of shots continued to be landed at North Shields till the end 

 of the month by boats on passage to East Anglia. The greater part of 

 the season's catch was landed at North Shields, the total for the 

 Northumberland stations being 33,572 crans valued at £92,016, while 

 7903 crans valued at £19,577 were landed at Eyemouth. 



The fishing grounds extended over a wide area, but the bulk of the 

 catch was obtained from 10 to 15 miles off the Fame Islands and 15 to 

 50 miles from the Tyne. . 



The prosecution of the great-line fishing received rather more atten- 

 tion than usual from crews belonging to this district. In the beginning 

 of January 7 motor boats equipped with great-lines and cod-nets pro- 

 ceeded to Stranraer, but the results of the voyage were barely sufficient 

 to clear their working expenses. 



Early in April 20 steam liners were fitted out for the great-line fishing 

 with headquarters at North Shields. For a certain period these vessels 

 made satisfactory progress, but latterly the catches fell off, and the 

 heavy outlays incurred on their long trips to sea (as far as 280 miles) 

 swallowed up the greater part of their earnings. A few motor boats 

 also took part in this fishing, but with only moderate results. 



Forty-six crews from this District participated in the herring fishing 

 at East Anglia, where their gross total earnings amounted to £16,328 as 

 compared with £61,030 for 42 vessels in the preceding year. The fishing 

 proved an unprofitable one, and a number of crews found themselves in 

 debt at the close of the season. 



Leith. — The principal features of the District fisheries during the 

 year 1921 were the dislocation of the trawling branch of the industry 

 by various labour troubles, the unusually large quantity of immature 

 haddocks caught by trawlers, the poor prices ruling for fish, and the 

 consequent unremunerative results to trawlowners. The coal dispute 

 from the end of March until the first week of July put up the price of 

 bunker coals and restricted supplies, while a dispute between trawl- 

 owners and crews regarding a proposed reduction of wages, which lasted 

 from 1st May until 9th July, was the means of keeping the greater 

 part of the fleet in harbour for two months. Another disagreement 

 arose during April regarding the increased charges proposed by Newhaven 

 fish salesmen for the use of boxes by buyers, as a consequence of which 

 the latter refrained from buying fish there for a fortnight. Ultimately 

 all these unfortunate matters were amicably adjusted, but not without 

 having adversely affected the industry. 



The local trawl fleet at the close of 1921 numbered 82 vessels, which 

 is the highest figure it has attained and represents an increase as com- 

 pared with 1920 of 8 vessels, the most of which were Admiralty drifters 

 disposed of to ex-service fishermen through the Board. The chief 

 feature as regards motor boats was the addition of a large new first class 

 boat of 64 feet of keel. Sailing boats showed a reduction of 15. The 

 most of the sailers are now old boats used by occasional fishermen at 

 creeks on the north side of the Firth of Forth. 



The trawling industry experienced a serious and anxious time 

 throughout almost the whole of the year as a result of the labour troubles 

 already referred to, the poor quality of the catches, and the moderate 

 demand which ruled for fish, particularly during the last six months of 

 the year. The heavy destruction of trawl gear caused by submerged 

 wrecks was also a serious matter for owners. Haddocks formed about 

 54 per cent, of the year's catch, and during the latter half of the year 

 about one-half of these fish consisted of " seed" haddocks. 



