196 



Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



the boats were sold, chiefly to Firth of Forth ports, for the prosecution of 

 the winter herring fishing, while a few others were either broken up or struck 

 oft' the fishing register as being unseaworthy. 



There was also a corresponding decrease in the extent and value of fishing 

 gear and in the number of men employed on board sailing boats. 



As stated in previous reports, this decrease is traceable to the unremune- 

 rative results obtained from the inshore fishings, and also to the fact that 

 the ordinary sailing boat is being outstripped by the more modern steam or 

 motor-propelled boat. 



The sprat fishing in the Tay was the most successful for the past eight 

 years. This fishing was carried on during January and the last three months 

 of the year, the best results being obtained in November. Prices varied 

 between 3s. and 17s. 6d. per cran, while the average worked out at about 

 8s. 6d. per cran. The catch was nearly all sent in a fresh state to the 

 English markets. 



With the exception of 1907, the summer herring fishing of the past 

 season was the best recorded since the year 1903. The fishing commenced 

 early in June and continued to the end of August. One of the chief features 

 of the season was the frequent landings made by " K.Y.," as well as other 

 steam drifters at Montrose. The depth of water at this port permitted those 

 vessels to come and go at any state of the tide, while the facilities for landing 

 their catches and taking in supplies of coals and water were not lost sight of 

 by the fishermen. For the three months — June, July, and August — the total 

 catch was 16,634 crans, as compared with 13,586 crans for the corresponding 

 period of the preceding year. Prices ranged from 5s. to 32s. per cran, the 

 average being 19s. 10d., as against 15s. 8d. per cran in 1910. 



The landings up to the end of July were mostly of the " Mattie" class, 

 but the herrings landed during August were of much better quality, with a 

 larger proportion of " Full" fish than in recent years. 



In the earlier part of the season some fair takes were got from 5 to 10 

 miles off Stonehaven; some shots were also brought from the "Shauld" 

 water — 16 miles off — but the bulk of the catch was obtained 30 to 60 miles 

 in a south-easterly direction from Montrose. 



Small-line fishing was prosecuted throughout the year from the various 

 creeks in the district. Haddocks appeared to be rather more plentiful than 

 for the past few years, but stormy weather during the last two to three 

 months considerably interrupted the prosecution of this fishing. In com- 

 parison with the returns of the previous year the total results were rather 

 better, but fell far short of what could be desired. 



The trawling industry is not meantime showing signs of further develop- 

 ment in this district. For the first nine months of the year 13 trawlers were 

 regularly employed, but, owing to one of these having been sunk early in 

 October, only 12 were engaged during the remainder of the year. The total 

 landings fell short by 5000 cwts. in quantity and nearly <£5800 in value of 

 the figures for 1910. The total number of arrivals was 1314, with an 

 average catch per arrival of 51 cwts., and an average value of barely <£26, as 

 compared with 1284 arrivals, 56 cwts., and £30 respectively in the preceding 

 year. 



The returns of mussels landed were above those of 1910, but below those 

 of 1909. 



Lobsters and crabs were less plentiful, but the value of the latter was 

 equal to that realised during the previous year. 



Unclassified shell -fish showed practically no change, either in quantity or 

 value. 



Coopers were regularly employed throughout the year, and have every 

 prospect of steady work for some time to come. 



Fifty-nine sailing boats from this district prosecuted the herring fishing on 

 the north-east coast of England. The results, however, were far from satis- 



