194 



Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



Anstruther District. 



The various branches of the fisheries whieh are carried on in Anstruther 

 district were attended during the past year with moderate success. Com- 

 pared with those of the preceding year, the returns for 1911 show a decrease 

 in both the quantity and value of fish landed. The falling off" is referable 

 entirely to the summer herring fishing, which alone showed a shortage of 

 23,173 cwts. in quantity and .£3061 in value. The majority of the fishermen 

 were, however, employed during the greater part of the year at fishings 

 outside the limits of the district, and, as these fishings yielded average 

 returns, it may be said that, taken as a whole, the year 1911 was fairly 

 remunerative for all concerned with the industry. 



That the fishing industry is in a healthy condition is evidenced by the 

 fact that the capital invested therein continues to increase. Since 1906, the 

 total value of boats and vessels owned in this district has risen from 

 £1 11,729 to £176,922. During the past year six steam drifters were added 

 to the district fleet, and motor engines were installed in four large sailing 

 boats, while at the close of the year another steam drifter was being built 

 for local owners, and motors were being fitted in other three sailing boats. 

 On the other hand, the number of sailing boats is gradually falling off, and 

 as no large sailing boats have been built for district owners for some years, 

 it appears to be a question of a few more years when only vessels propelled 

 by mechanical power will be employed in prosecuting the herring fishing. 



The winter herring fishing, which is the principal fishing carried on in this 

 district, has been declining for the past few years, but the returns for the 

 year just closed show a considerable increase in the landings, although, 

 unfortunately, there is very little increase in the value. Operations were 

 commenced about the beginning of the year, when herrings were obtained 

 close inshore between Buckhaven and Anstruther. As the season advanced 

 better takes were obtained on the usual fishing grounds between the May 

 Island and Fife Ness. A feature of the season, however, was the quantity 

 of herrings that were caught on the inshore and shallow waters by means of 

 anchored nets, and among the local fishermen there is a growing tendency to 

 use smaller-sized boats for this fishing. Unfortunately there was little 

 demand for the class of herrings that are obtained in this district, and prices 

 frequently were at a low level. The average price for the season was 16s. 

 per cran, compared with 21s. per cran for the season of 1910. With the 

 low prices the local curers were induced to cure a considerable portion of the 

 catch for Continental markets, but the venture did not prove profitable. 



The summer herring fishing, as already stated, showed a large falling off, 

 which decrease is referable to the mouths of June and July. In these 

 months of the previous year a very successful fishing was carried on, but 

 during the early part of the past season herrings were less plentiful on the 

 fishing grounds off this coast. As the number of steam drifters increases 

 there is also a greater tendency for the vessels to land their catches at the 

 larger ports which are within reach of the fishing grounds. For the months 

 of August and September the catch was considerably greater than for the 

 corresponding months of 1910. The total catch for the four months — June 

 to September — amounted to 9975 crans, against 16,020 crans for the corres- 

 ponding period of the preceding year. The herrings landed were generally 

 of indifferent quality, and only about one-fourth of the cure was presented 

 for the official brand. 



Most of the local steam drifters were employed at great-line fishing during 

 April and May. The results were fairly satisfactory, the average earnings 

 for that season being about <£60 per vessel better than for the same period of 

 1910. Practically all the catches were landed at the large fishing ports. 

 Small-line fishing was carried on at only the smaller creeks in the district, 



