68 



Appendices to Fortieth Annual Report 



Had it not been for 7000 tons of coals taken from northern ports and the 

 Shetland whaling stations, fishing would have collapsed by the middle 

 of May. Other adverse features were high railway rates, foreign com- 

 petition in English markets, scarcity of fish at certain periods, the high 

 cost of fishing gear, and high working expenses generally. 



The average price realised for fish landed was 29s. 2d. per cwt. against 

 27s. 7d. in 1920. The quality of most kinds of round fish was poor, and 

 cod and haddocks in particular were very thin up to October, when they 

 began to improve. 



Towards the close of the year there was a big drop in the value of 

 fishing vessels. Admiralty trawlers of the " Strath " type were freely 

 bought by Aberdeen owners at from £5000 to £6000, being only about 

 a third of their value in 1918, when the majority of the vessels were 

 built. The values of motor yawls employed at small-line and seine net 

 fishing have likewise fallen considerably, and owners have difficulty 

 in disposing of them even at a loss of 50 per cent. Trawling 

 companies, floated when prices were at their maximum, have been 

 obliged to write off large sums in respect of depreciation. 



The fleet of trawlers engaged was greatly augmented, and exceeded 

 the port's pre-war fleet. The best-tished vessel grossed £15,039 against 

 £22,300 in 1920, and the average gross earnings would not exceed 

 £7400 all over the fleet. It is computed that not more than one third 

 of the vessels cleared their way, and that the rest finished up with a loss 

 of from £300 to £2000 for the year's working. During the last three 

 months of the year, however, working expenses were reduced by about 

 30 per cent. 



Owing to the short supply of coals fishing at Faroe and Iceland was 

 carried on for only about two months, and the landings from those 

 grounds were small even as compared with the preceding year. 



During the year 45 local vessels tried herring trawling, but 19 made 

 only one and 12 two voyages each. Results were very partial, and 

 until the end of August a number of vessels had to finish up their 

 voyages off the Shetlands at white fishing. Several trawlers were not 

 properly fitted- out for herring fishing, and had proceeded rather in 

 quest of cod to the Fladden grounds, where the herrings were being 

 caught. The largest catch of 751 boxes, equal to 214 crans, was obtained 

 in 63 hours' actual fishing. Prices were frequently unsatisfactory, and 

 more certain results were obtained at ordinary trawling. The best- 

 iished vessel grossed £3078 for eight weeks, and the total catch landed 

 for that period amounted to 4271 crans, valued at £9575, giving an 

 average price of 44s. lOd. per cran. All were kippered or freshed. It 

 was generally allowed that German trawlers appeared to be more 

 successful than local vessels, as they were seen leaving the Fladden 

 grounds heavily laden. It is notable that no herrings of any account 

 were got on these grounds prior to 1920, although several trawlers 

 had fished there. 



The great-line fishing was prosecuted by the largest fleet ever 

 operating from this port. During the war all the regular liners were 

 converted into trawlers, but they have now resumed line fishing. The 

 fleet in the early spring and summer numbered 141 steam and motor 

 boats, including 30 trawlers fitted out for the lining season, and stranger 

 vessels. Insufficient supplies of bunkers handicapped vessels fishing on 

 the far distant grounds. Fishing during July and August at Eagle 

 Island and Porcupine Bank (off the west coast of Ireland), where 

 valuable catches of halibut were secured in 1920, was a failure, on 

 account of shoals of large sharks, which destroyed gear and made fishing 

 impossible. The season's catch did not come up to expectations, and 



