of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



201 



Norwegian herrings, which came via steamer from Hull, were kippered in 

 spring. A small cargo of 217 crans came direct from Norway. Five 

 thousand two hundred barrels of ungutted herrings were received from Yar- 

 mouth for making into " reds," chiefly for the Mediterranean markets. The 

 quantity of cod, etc., cured greatly exceeded any previous year's cure, but 

 the quality of the cod when dried was disappointing to curers. The filleting 

 of almost all kinds of round fish shows a steady development, and a 

 considerable quantity of codlings and haddocks so prepared are now exported 

 to South Africa and Mediterranean ports, mostly unsmoked. For home 

 consumption most of the filleted fish are dipped in a vegetable dye called 

 " Annatto," which gives them the appearance of having been smoked, but the 

 best qualities are lightly smoked. About 4150 barrels of roes were cured 

 for the sardine fisheries in France, and two schooner cargoes were exported 

 direct. Several of the German trawleis sent their roes to Hamburg by 

 trading steamer. 



The exportation of herrings to Continental markets did not commence till 

 August, and a feature of the year was that almost all the herrings were 

 despatched in part cargoes to other districts to load up. The exportation of 

 cured dried cod and ling shows an increase of 23,726 cwts. sent to Spanish 

 and South American markets. Fish formerly sent to Glasgow by rail for 

 shipment abroad are now shipped in larger quantities via Liverpool, London, 

 and Hamburg steamers. The demand for dried fish was very good this 

 season, and prices ruled from £19 to £24 per ton for cod ; ling, £26 to £27 ; 

 haddocks and tusk, £18 to £20 ; and saithe, .£12 to .£14. The North Sea 

 fish realised the best prices. 



There were 42 steam drifters employed in prosecuting the herring fishing 

 at English ports, and, on the whole, they were well pleased with results. 

 Their earnings ranged from £299 to £1600, averaging £685. The loss of 

 netting sustained was about £300. 



Owing to the slack fishing on the East Coast, coopers were not nearly so 

 regularly employed as in the previous year, and the output of barrels 

 shows a decrease of 29,799. 



The shipbuilding industry was fairly brisk, 13 more steam fishing vessels 

 — mostly trawlers — having been launched than in 1910. 



The damage to and loss of steam fishing vessels was pretty heavy, but the 

 loss of life was small. A sad occurrence happened at the village of Downies 

 early in the year, a small-line boat foundering about a mile offshore, whereby 

 three brothers lost their lives. The permission granted by the Board to two 

 trawlers to drag for the bodies was greatly appreciated by the community. 



The large scheme of harbour improvements meantime being carried on at 

 Torry is progressing favourably. Dock No. 1, which is nearing completion, 

 is the first of a series of four docks for the accommodation of steam fishing 

 vessels in winter, and for the discharging of herrings in summer. When 

 completed the docks will be of great advantage to fishermen. 



Fishery Office, James Donaldson, 



Aberdeen, 13th January 1912. Fishery Officer. 



Peterhead District, 



The success which attended the fishing industry throughout the year 1911 

 may be considered on the whole good, although the home herring fishing, 

 on which so much depends, could not be pronounced satisfactory. This, 

 however, was mitigated to a considerable extent by the excellent results 

 obtained from the English herring fishing. Fishermen, curers, and workers 

 of all descriptions benefited largely from the latter, and the earnings derived 



