of the Fishery Board for Scotland. xiii 



T^TOT'T?Tr 1r P 



Average Earnings per Vessel. 



Great Summer Herring 

 Fishing. 



English Herring 

 Fishing. 



1911. 



1910. 



1911. 



1910. 





£ 



£ 



£ 



£ 



Anstruther, . . 



746 



840 



598 



547 



Aberdeen, 



630 



720 



685 



562 



Peterhead, 



743 



1,029 



600 



600 



Fraserburgh, . . 



1,019 



1,030 



663 



790 



Banff, 



900 



750 



600 



646 



Buckie, 



940 



930 



700 



430 



Findhorn. 



900 



970 



700 



610 



Wick, 



840 



1,000 



590 



540 



In most instances the gross earnings at the Scottish fishing were 

 smaller than in the preceding year, this being due entirely to the 

 falling-off in the catch, as prices were distinctly higher. The most 

 successful crews hailed from Fraserburgh, and their earnings are 

 almost equal to those of 1910, while it will be observed that the Banff 

 crews did even better than in the previous year. It is difficult to 

 account for this, except that they were successful in securing good 

 catches notwithstanding the general shortage, and that high prices 

 were obtained. 



At the English fishing, the earnings of the Scottish steam drifters 

 were on the average rather better than in 1910. Herrings were very 

 plentiful, but prices ruled much lower than usual, and the season was 

 a short one. Satisfaction with the results was unfortunately dis- 

 counted by the heavy loss of fishing gear, not, as in the preceding 

 season, through stormy weather, but owing to the bursting of the nets 

 through weight of fish. 



While the great summer herring fishing and the English herring 

 fishing occupy the chief attention of the steam fishing vessels, it must, 

 of course, be kept in view that the winter and early spring herring 

 fishings and great-lining are also prosecuted by a considerable section 

 of the fleet, and that in some years a substantial addition to their 

 earnings result. These fishings are not, however, so attractive to the 

 fishermen, as unless the catches are very good, the financial outcome 

 does not repay the fishermen for the labour involved and for the wear 

 and tear of gear, which are naturally greater during the winter and 

 spring months, when stormy weather is more or less prevalent. 



As was the case last year, a considerable number of steam fishing 

 vessels (greater than in any previous year) devoted their attention 

 wholly to great lining, but were not so successful as usual (due 

 largely to the scarcity of halibut on the famous Porcupine Bank, off 

 the west of Ireland, and to the prevalence of dog-fish on the north- 

 western grounds). The best-fished vessel, however, would seem to 

 have had a remunerative season, as she grossed no less than £4400. 

 Induced by their success in 1910, about 22 trawlers were again fitted 



