of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



69 



vessels' earnings varied greatly, in some cases barely covering expenses. 

 The best-fished vessel grossed £14,150, being .£7850 less than the best 

 in 1920. while for liners of the drifter class the highest earnings were 

 £8349, which was £3800 less. 



Cod and ling were very scarce until late in summer, when catches 

 improved. Grounds frequented by large liners in search chiefly of 

 halibut were Faroe, Rockall, St. Kilda, and Lousy Bank. One large 

 liner made three voyages to Iceland during August, September and 

 October with very successful results, and this fishing is likely to be 

 developed, as several " Strath " vessels have been purchased from the 

 Admiralty for that purpose. The drifter liners usually fished in the 

 North Sea, and landed catches consisting mostly of cod and skate. 



Small-line fishing was carried on by some 12 motor yawls and 15 sail 

 boats, manned by old fishermen, who made a fair wage, although the 

 cost of oil and bait was heavy. 



English drifters which prosecuted Danish seine net fishing in the 

 Moray Firth did not in most cases so much as clear expenses, as the 

 ground was too rough for successful fishing, and the distance from Aber- 

 deen was too great. Seven local drifters were fitted out with the necessary 

 gear, but only one had the special winch installed and the others used 

 their trawl winches. After a month's trial all the vessels gave up the 

 venture, having contracted debt to the extent of from £80 to £400. 



Shipbuilding was at a standstill, and only one trawler was built 

 during the year, for a Fleetwood company. Barrel making was unusually 

 slack; most of the coopers were idle for about six months, and the 

 barrel factories were compelled to close down, as no orders for barrels 

 were forthcoming. 



Peterhead. — The small decrease recorded in the number of steam 

 drifters would probably have been much greater but for the fact that 

 a number of these vessels which were offered for sale failed to find 

 purchasers. The movement in favour of the adoption of the drifter 

 type of trawler, which was prominent during the previous year, 

 received a check, owing to the unprofitable results obtained by- this 

 class of vessel. There was again, however, a comparatively large 

 increase in the number of small motor craft, representing boats 

 purchased from other districts, or previously propelled by sails only. 

 Values of vessels and gear, although still considerably above the pre- 

 war level, show a decrease. 



When the herring fishing opened on 13th June only 26 vessels were 

 engaged, and although the fleet was soon increased, the largest number 

 employed at any time was only 137, compared with 262 in the previous 

 year, being one of the smallest fleets which have worked from this 

 port. Weather conditions were favourable and fishing suffered little 

 interruption, although in the circumstances fishermen were easily 

 deterred from going to sea. The results were very disappointing, and 

 the total landings in any one week seldom equalled a day's require- 

 ments, even with the reduced working staff. The average catch per 

 arrival by steam drifters was exactly the same as in the previous year, 

 while the difference in the average by motor boats was insignificant. 

 Steam drifters grossed from £300 to £1300 with an average of about 

 £740, and motor boats from £170 to £650, averaging £400. The 

 quality of the herrings was very unsatisfactory, but competition was 

 at times very keen, particularly during the first fortnight, and also 

 towards the close of the season, when it was manifest that there was 

 to be a general shortage. Prices for fresh herrings ranged from 7s. 

 to 110s., but for curing purposes mostly from 23s. to 34s. per cran. 



