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Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



that on several occasions prices were too high to leave curers any margin of 

 profit, and several resolved to close their premises. The port can boast of 

 having maintained the highest price per cran on the coast — the average 

 being 23s. 6d., compared with 20s. 6d. in 1910. In the other branches of 

 the industry — trawling, steam lining, and shipbuilding — Aberdeen holds 

 the premier place on the coast. 



The results obtained at the herring fishing at Peterhead were not so 

 satisfactory as during the previous year. In the landings there was a 

 shortnge of 38,152 crans and £34,627 in value as compared with the 

 preceding year. The number of steamers operating from the port was 160 

 and of sail boats 188. Although the sail boats still predominate, they are 

 fast disappearing from the register. The earnings of the steam drifters 

 showed a considerable falling off from the previous year, the average being 

 .£743, against £1029 in 1910. A commencement was made at the herring 

 fishing earlier than in any previous season, and the heavy catches of 

 immature herrings brought in benefited neither carers nor fishermen. 

 Notwithstanding a week's voluntary close time, about 20,000 crans were 

 landed in May. The heaviest landings of the season were during the first 

 week of June, and this, together with the large stocks of early cured 

 herrings for which there was no demand, brought prices for the fresh 

 article down to a very low level. The fishing in the beginning of July 

 having fallen off, and the supply being short of the demand, the prices 

 obtained by fishermen gradually rose to 20s. and 30s. per cran. 



After the lapse of a year Fraserburgh has again resumed the premier 

 place on the East Coast as a herring fishing centre. The fishing opened 

 early in May, but, notwithstanding the premature start, the season turned 

 out a fairly successful one to the fishermen. As a result of the heavy 

 catches of immature fish brought in during the month of May, for which 

 there was practically no demand, thousands of crans were either disposed 

 of for manure or thrown back into the sea. Thereafter the fishermen 

 arranged for a voluntary close time, which enabled the markets to recover. 

 In June and July the quality improved, and with moderate supplies and 

 keen competition among the curers, remunerative prices were obtained. 

 Owing to the frequent calms, the sail boats, of which close upon 400 were 

 employed, were greatly handicapped in getting to and from the fishing 

 grounds, but nevertheless their average earnings amounted to .£300 — 

 practically the same as in 1910. In recent years the bulk of the catch was 

 secured on grounds some 20 to 40 miles off shore, but last season 

 operations were carried on at a distance of from 60 to 70 miles north-east 

 of the port. Owing to the short supplies and high prices for the green fish, 

 the season was a somewhat unprofitable one for the curers. 



From Banff to Helmsdale the fishermen, as a rule, do not depend on the 

 success of the home fishings, which are prosecuted during the summer 

 season by a few boats from several of the ports on this line of coast. The 

 most persevering crews and best equipped boats prosecute the herring 

 fishing at practically every herring centre on the East and West Coasts of 

 Scotland. From the numerous shoals of young herrings which were struck 

 in the Moray Firth during the months of May and June, it is evident that 

 the fish have not yet deserted these waters. Operations, however, are 

 commenced too early and the shoals broken up before any advantage can 

 possibly be derived, owing to the unripe quality of the fish. 



Although the catch at Wick and Shetland showed a falling off as 

 compared with the previous year, the landings at Stronsay, where a large 

 number of boats were employed, exceeded all previous records. Features 

 of the season at Stronsay were the regularity with which the fishing 

 was prosecuted, the high averages, good quality, and high prices. As a 

 result of the season's success, several East Coast curers contemplate opening 

 up new stations in that locality. 



