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Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



A very successful herring fishing was engaged in by trawlers in the North 

 Sea, near the Dogger Bank, from September to the end of November. In 

 all, 4278 crans, valued at .£4756, were landed, while, in addition, heavy 

 catches were regularly landed in Germany. One vessel grossed over £800 

 for three shots sold within a month at Altona. Prices realised at Aberdeen 

 were from 14s. to 33s. per cran, while at Altona prices ruled from 37s. to 

 56s. per cran. The quality at first was good, but latterly the herriugs were 

 landed in three selections, and some of them were no bigger than sprats. A 

 special net was introduced a few years ago for the capture of herrings, and 

 its main feature is the smallness of the mesh in the cod-end, which measures 

 only two inches from knot to knot, so that the minutest fish cannot escape. 

 This is the smallest-meshed net that can be manufactured of trawl-net twine. 

 The landing of such small fish is much to be deprecated, and the only 

 method of preventing the capture of immature fish by trawlers is to raise the 

 minimum size of mesh permissible in the cod-end to 4 or 4^ inches from 

 knot to knot. 



Steam line fishing was conducted on a much larger scale than formerly. 

 Besides the ordinary fleet of liners, 22 trawlers were fitted out with lines 

 during the summer, but, unfortunately, the venture did not prove a 

 remunerative one. The scarcity of halibut on the famous Porcupine Bank, 

 off the west coast of Ireland, and the prevalence of dogfish on the north- 

 western grounds, contributed greatly to the non-success of the fishing. 

 Although the catch of fish landed shows an increase of 34,204 cwts, in 

 quantity and £1 0,1 96 in value, the earnings of vessels all over were not 

 nearly so good as in preceding years. The best -fished vessel grossed for the 

 season £4400. Stranger vessels landed a considerable proportion of the 

 year's catch. 



The small-line fishing returns show a slight improvement upon the previous 

 year's catch, but the industry is receiving less attention as time goes on. 

 Sail great-line fishing is now entirely given up by local fishermen, and any 

 landings made were by stranger crews. Nothing was done at cod-net fishing, 

 and fishermen are offering their gear for sale. 



An early start was made at the herring fishing, which was begun in May, 

 and was fairly prosperous until the middle of July, after which date herrings 

 became scarce, so that the steam drifters began to leave for the English 

 fishing at Blyth and Hartlepool. Although the fishing slightly improved 

 again in August, the fleet was considerably reduced. With a keen demand by 

 tinning firms, the prices of herrings rose too high for curing purposes, and 

 several of the largest firms practically closed their premises. The season was a 

 fairly good one to fishermen, but curers barely cleared working expenses, which 

 are now a heavy item. The earnings made by steam drifters ranged from 

 £500 to £1100, averaging about £650, and by sailing boats from £136 to 

 £280, averaging £195. The average price realised per cran was 23s. 6d., 

 compared with 20s. 6d. per cran in 1910. The quality of the herrings varied 

 greatly in the early part of the season, but in August fish of very good 

 quality were landed from the grounds 30 to 40 miles S.E. from Girdleness. 



As usual, a heavy business was done in despatching white fish fresh to 

 market, and until recently the bulk of the fish was sent to market on commis- 

 sion, but the business has now developed into a regular customer trade. The 

 " Klondyking " of herrings was not carried on so extensively as during 

 previous seasons, the principal buyers having removed their steamers to Wick 

 district, so that most of the herrings freshed were consumed locally. 



Curing for Continental markets started early in May, but the number of 

 barrels of herrings cured was considerably less than in 1910. Curers 

 experienced great difficulty in disposing of their early-cured herrings, which 

 they were latterly obliged to consign to market themselves. A steady business 

 was done in the tinning and kippering of herrings almost all the year round, 

 supplies coming from other districts in winter. About 2000 crans of 



