of the Fishery Board jor Scotland. 



203 



experienced a further shortage, and, indeed, throughout the rest of the season 

 the supply was far from being equal to the demand. 



Throughout the whole season the average number of vessels operating 

 showed very little change from the previous year. The Moray Firth and 

 Firth of Forth again furnished large contingents, and, altogether, there was 

 an average of 350 craft, made up of 160 steam drifters, 188 sail boats, and 

 2 motor boats. The average number of crans obtained by each vessel works 

 out at 549 crans, or 108 crans per boat less than in 1910. The earnings of 

 the steam drifters showed a considerable falling off from the previous year, 

 the average being £743, against £1029 in 1910. By comparison, the 

 earnings of the sail boats were much better, the average being £350, against 

 .£367 for the previous year. Fine weather prevailed throughout the whole 

 season, and the principal grounds being comparatively near Lhe land, from 

 30 to 70 miles, very little extraordinary expenditure was incurred by either 

 steam or sailing boats. 



The demand for the green article lias been increasing at Peterhead year 

 by year, and during the past few seasons, new curers, consisting chiefly of 

 fishermen who have saved some money by their drifters, have entered the 

 field, so that, including the established curers, kipperers, and fresh buyers, 

 there were almost one hundred buyers in all competing at the fish mart. 

 Rarely, if ever, was it possible to supply all these buyers in one day. The 

 want of sufficient supplies not only inflated prices and adversely affected the 

 curers, but fish workers also. Though the curers secured the early herrings 

 at a fairly low figure, the formation of a combine by the principal Libau 

 buyers against such herrings must have entailed considerable loss to the 

 majority of the trade. When the fishing commenced considerable stocks 

 were on hand, in marked contrast to the previous year, when the 

 season opened with a practically clear market. The spell of great heat, 

 which made the transport of herrings almost impossible, also told against 

 the curers. 



The placing on the market of a supply of Crown branded herrings had a 

 reviving effect, but at the period when the herrings became eligible for the 

 brand the catches fell away considerably, and the proportion which received 

 the Crown brand was small in relation to the total catch. The quantity 

 branded, however, was much about the same as in the previous year. 



"Blank selling " was scarcely mentioned among the local members of the 

 trade as far as the home season was concerned, but this speculative way of 

 dealing was still carried on in England to a considerable extent. 



For a number of years past the line fishing has been characterised as a 

 dwindling industry. During the year under review the tide of adversity 

 turned, and the limited number of fishermen at work had the most remunera- 

 tive year they have had for a long time past. The fleet of small-line boats 

 is, therefore, likely to be increased, and the number of fishermen conducting 

 operations to be largely augmented. 



The English herring fishing proved remarkably successful, and each section 

 of the trade reaped a rich harvest. Owing to the shortage of herrings during 

 the Scottish season curers entered upon operations under more favourable 

 auspices than usual, and realised good profits from their dealings. The most 

 remarkable feature in connection w r ith the English fishing was the com- 

 paratively short time the season lasted, the transactions in six or seven weeks 

 more than equalling those of the five months' season at Peterhead. 



The only unsatisfactory element in connection with the English fishing 

 was the great loss of netting caused by fouling and weight of fish. It is 

 estimated that the total loss amounted to about £8000. 



The phenomenal success of the English herring fishing created a great 

 demand for barrels, with the result that the whole of the stocks were cleared 

 out, employment for coopers throughout the year 1912 being thereby ensured. 



The boat-building industry has been in a languishing state for several 



