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Appendices to Fortieth Annual Report 



in Dundee although only 5 are registered there, and the landings of 

 those were augmented by several belonging to other ports. The value 

 of the trawl catch created a record for the District, but heavy loss of 

 gear, and the still high cost of material and labour, left nothing for 

 owners. Operations were conducted principally on the grounds extend- 

 ing from 5 to 60 miles E.S.E. and E.N.E. of the Bell Rock. Fish were 

 fairly plentiful, but earnings were adversely affected by the large 

 proportion of small haddocks and whitings, the former of which repre- 

 sented 45 per cent, and the latter 9 per cent, of the total catch. 



The steam drifters made a start at the great summer herring fishing 

 at Peterhead, but gave it up early and resorted to great-lining; while 

 only 4 of the Arbroath motor boats taking part in the fishing at the same 

 port were manned by local fishermen. The earnings of these ranged 

 from £450 to £630 gross, averaging after the deduction of expenses £150 

 per crew. The same motor boat crews took part in the herring fishing 

 at northern English ports, but, with one exception, did little more than 

 clear expenses. Two steam drifters were at Yarmouth and earned 

 sufficient to leave a small share to the fishermen. Five yawls belonging 

 to Arbroath engaged in the Firth of Forth winter herring fishing and 

 grossed from £40 to £150, the average being £74 each. 



Very little was done at sprat fishing in the Tay Estuary, and all the 

 fish landed were sold for manure. 



With motor power at their command fishermen are now better able 

 to time their work, and can follow several methods of fishing in one 

 day. A number of crews fished crab and lobster creels and cod-nets and 

 worked a fleet of small-lines all in one trip, and it was not uncommon 

 for a crew to work both cod-nets and small-lines in the same day. Line- 

 fishing was conducted during the whole year and the total catch was 

 well maintained. The weather from April to October was favourable, 

 enabling the crews to work all the known banks, but in the other 

 months was stormy and interfered with the work. 



Carnoustie and St. Andrews Bays were opened to seine flounder net 

 fishing during the year, and this fishing was prosecuted by Montrose 

 District crews throughout the whole year, at one time almost three-fourths 

 of the motor fleet being engaged. Some very good catches were secured, 

 totalling for September almost 3000 cwts. But the fish soon got scarce, 

 and the bulk of the plaice landed were very small and earnings dwindled. 

 There were 3701 arrivals, with an average catch of 3 6 cwts. of plaice 

 and dabs valued at £6, 6s., and the increase in the total catch com- 

 pared with that of 1920 was 9676 cwts. 



During the first and last quarters of the year cod-net fishing on the 

 inshore grounds off the two northern creeks produced a total of 4672 

 cwts. 



Three steam liners engaged in deep sea great-lining from April to 

 August and landed their fish at Aberdeen and English ports, and 

 although hindered by the coal strike grossed an average of £1951 each. 



Early in the year 11 motor yawls went to the west coast to engage 

 in great-line fishing from Girvan and Campbeltown, but most did not 

 earn sufficient to pay expenses. 



Unfortunately three men lost their lives through the swamping of 

 their boat while entering Arbroath harbour, and a young man belong- 

 ing to Gourdon was dragged overboard by a seine-net and drowned in 

 Carnoustie Bay. 



Stonehaven. — Fish were on the whole very scarce during 1921, 

 especially from March to June, but on account of the coal stoppage, 

 good prices were invariably realised for the light catches landed during 



