of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



197 



factory, as the average earnings amounted to only .£66 per boat. None of 

 these boats proceeded further south than Scarborough. 



In addition to the above sailing boats, five steam drifters and four motor 

 boats also participated in the herring fishing on the north-east coast of 

 England, and, with one exception (a motor boat), at Yarmouth or Lowestoft. 

 The steam drifters realised an average of .£578 and motor boats £304 per 

 vessel. 



The estimated value of fishing gear lost or damaged during the period the 

 boats were engaged at the English fishing amounted to £765. 



One of the crew of a Ferryden boat was knocked overboard by the sail 

 and drowned six miles off Whitby. On the Scottish coast also the loss of 

 four lives falls to be recorded through the foundering of a line fishing boat 

 one-and-a-half miles off Gourdon. 



A local trawler was sunk near the mouth of the Tay, through colliding 

 with another trawler, but the crew were all saved. 



The two fishery barometers in this district are in good working order. 



Wm. Nisbet. 



Fishery Office, Fishery Officer. 



Montrose, 5th January 1912. 



Stonehaven District. 



In comparing the results of the fisheries of this district with the previous 

 year's, a decrease of 850 cwts. in the quantity of fish landed, but an increase 

 of £1303 in value, is observed. Herrings are responsible for the decrease in 

 catch, and haddocks and whitings for the increase in value. 



There was very little change in the means of capture, apart from a slight 

 decrease in the extent and value of fishing gear. Six fishermen left the 

 district during the course of the year. 



The herring fishing commenced at Stonehaven about the middle of June, 

 and throughout the season the boats belonging to Stonehaven landed most of 

 their catches at Aberdeen, on account of the better prices obtained there. 

 One feature of the fishing was the number of stranger boats hailing from the 

 Firth of Forth and Montrose district which landed their catches at Stone- 

 haven, where otherwise the fishing would have been a failure owing to the 

 local boats deserting the port. Some good catches were secured on the 

 inshore ground from 5 to 10 miles off Catterline, and it is the first time for- 

 years that herrings have been got on that once prolific ground. The principal 

 grounds frequented were from 50 to 70 miles in a S.E. direction. The 

 quality was on the whole good, and the average price realised was 16s. 6d. 

 per crau, compared with 13s. Id. in 1910. Earnings of boats ranged from 

 £130 to £290, averaging about £200. The fishing closed about the end of 

 August, when most of the boats proceeded to Scarborough. 



The usual number of boats started great-line fishing in April, but operations 

 were curtailed for several weeks owing to strong gales of wind prevailing. 

 The season was by no means a successful one, aud the shots of fish secured 

 were generally poor, cod and ling being extremely scarce on the grounds 

 frequented. The bulk of the fish caught was landed at Aberdeen, as fisher- 

 men considered that better prices were obtained there than at Stonehaven. 

 The best-fished boat made £120, while the average would be about £70 for 

 ten weeks. The landings of fair catches of surplus bait greatly augmented 

 earnings. 



The small-line fishing receives most attention, and the catch of haddocks 

 and whitings landed was much better than it has been for some years past, 

 especially during the closing months of the year. The best takes were got 



