\xvi 



Thirtieth Annual Report 



quantity in Inveraray district represents a falling off of 60 per cent. 

 The most important increase occurred in Campbeltown district, where 

 the landings were augmented by 8121 cwts., or 33 per cent., as 

 compared with the preceding year's returns. 



The total value of the early herring catch was £404,178, or £168,677 

 less than in 1910, the average price per cwt. working out at 4s. 3d., as 

 against 4s. 6d. in the preceding year. 



Great Slimmer Herring Fishing. 



This fishing was formerly never begun before the middle of July, 

 and it was accordingly held to cover the period from 1st July to the 

 end of the year, but since the rise of the early fishing on the East 

 Coast, the distinction between the early and great summer fishings 

 has, of course, become a purely arbitrary one. For statistical purposes, 

 however, it is still found convenient to adhere to that distinction. 



The total catch for the traditional period amounted to 2.869,314 

 cwts., valued at £1,039,528, these figures representing a decrease of 

 4755 cwts. in quantity, but an increase in value of £99,679, as com- 

 pared with the returns for 1910. The comparatively small catch was 

 due to the scarcity which began to make itself felt towards the end of 

 June, and which continued throughout the entire season. The 

 fishing, indeed, was practically over by the end of August, and 

 although there was a slight rally for a short time in September, the 

 greater part of the fishing fleet had by that time departed for the 

 English fishing. The decrease in the catch is almost wholly referable 

 to the Aberdeenshire ports — Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Fraserburgh — 

 as the Wick catch established a record for this fishing, while the 

 Orkney and Shetland figures also show a substantial increase, which 

 was, however, entirely due to the great strides made by Stronsay as a 

 fishing centre. So rapidly, indeed, has this port developed that the 

 Orkney herring returns have been almost trebled within three years. 

 The following table shows the catches in the districts referred to for 

 1911 and 1910:- 





1911. 



1910. 





Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Aberdeen 



204,156 



231,717 



Peterhead 



397,215 



424,711 



Fraserburgh . . 



449,552 



494,351 



Wick 



337,001 



290,531 



Orkney 



268,379 



204,572 



Shetland 



630,495 



635,797 



The West Coast catch (336,921 cwts.) remained practically 

 stationary, the difference between the figures for 1910 and 1911 being 

 only 308 cwts., but although there was so little variation in the total, 

 the figures for individual districts differ markedly from those of the 

 preceding year. Thus the catch in Campbeltown district rose from 

 16,799 cwts. to 59,334 cwts., while the Rothesay district catch fell 

 from 48,125 cwts. to considerably less than half of that quantity. 

 Herrings again appeared in Loch Snizort towards the close of the 

 year, and a fairly successful fishing was obtained, but disappointing 

 results attended the efforts of those who tried to repeat the success 

 attending the Barra autumn fishing of 1910. which, it will be 



