of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



193 



in such large numbers. During the greater part of the year the demand for 

 fish was uniformly good, so that satisfactory prices were realised, and the 

 industry continued to prosper. 



The herring fishery of this district is carried on principally in the Firth of 

 Forth from January to April, there being practically no important summer 

 herring fishing here. The year's aggregate catch was 3291 crans, a decrease 

 of 1541 crans from the figures for the preceding year. The winter herring 

 fishing alone — the principal season — gave an average for the 40 to 50 yawls 

 employed in it of some 50 to 60 clrans, so it will be seen that the year's 

 operations were very unsuccessful. 



The fishermen of Cockenzie, Fisherrow, and a few Dunbar men, besides 

 actively engaging in the herring fishings at the Scottish north-east coast 

 stations in their season, take part as well in the English and Irish fishings. 

 This year 1 1 sail boats, 6 steamers, and 5 motor boats were employed at the 

 English fishing centres, and 6 sail boats at Ireland. Their aggregate catch 

 at these fishings was 5820 crans, and the earnings about <£6fcl0. In the 

 preceding year, when 39 of the local fleet were at these fishings, the catch 

 and earnings were about twice as much. 



Within the last three years the sprat fishery of the Forth has assumed a 

 new importance. This fishery has existed for many years with exceedingly 

 variable results, but always, up to three years ago, the fish were difficult to 

 dispose of, as there was only a small demand for them in this country. 

 Now, however, owing to the scarcity of real sardines and anchovies, the 

 sprat is preserved and sold under new names. In order to obtain supplies 

 three Swedish firms have established themselves at Newhaven, and the sprats 

 purchased there are prepared for transit, and finally preserved in Sweden 

 and Norway, principally for exportation. Consignments have also been 

 sent of late to Hamburg. No sprats appeared in the Forth in 1910, but 

 this year's catch was fairly successful, and was, besides, of the finest quality 

 ever seen. The total was close on 3000 crans, of which 2777 barrels were 

 exported to Norway, Sweden, and Germany. 



For many years past the line fisheries of this district have been declining, 

 or at best have remained in a stationary position from year to year. While 

 this year's results show a slight improvement, still, owing to the continued 

 scarcity of fish, this branch is not actively carried on, except at Cockenzie, 

 where, there being a plentiful supply of clams at hand for baiting, the 

 fishermen, as a rule, make fair earnings in the season when not engaged in 

 the more profitable pursuit of herrings. 



The shell fisheries of the district are fairly important, the chief supplies being 

 crabs and clams. The value of the year's produce is generally about <£5000. 



A considerable quantity of partially-cured codfish was brought into Leith 

 in course of the year from Iceland and Faroe by vessels belonging to these 

 islands, and by the regular trading steamers, and supplies of the same kind 

 were also brought from Hull and Grimsby. During the winter, too, frequent 

 consignments of Swedish fresh herrings were delivered at Granton by the 

 regular trading steamers, and supplies of Norwegian herrings came into the 

 district via Hull, the bulk of which was kippered and consumed locally. 



Large shipments of cured herrings via Leith, principally to German and 

 Russian ports, were made by the weekly tradiug steamers continuously 

 throughout the year, but the export showed a decrease of 9679 barrels as 

 compared with the previous year's total, and the export of fresh herrings also 

 slightly declined. 



Five local fishermen lost their lives by drowning. As five trawl vessels 

 and two steam drifters were wrecked and lost during the year, the loss under 

 this heading, estimated in all at £32,000, was greater than in any previous 

 year. 



Fishery Office, James Ingram, 



Lbith, ISth January 1912. Fishery Officer. 



