of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



205 



their own hands; and while it is admitted that there is a demand for a small 

 quantity of these early herrings for freshing, kippering, or tinning purposes, 

 there is little or no demand for such an article for curing for the Continental 

 markets. The experience of this season should therefore show fishermen that 

 it is entirely against their own interests to persist in catching herrings in 

 such large quantities, and for which, at such an early date, no remunerative 

 price can be obtained. There is also a general opinion that these very early 

 commencements break up the shoals, and thereby prevent the ordinary 

 quantity being got when the fish are of good quality, and would fetch good 

 prices. With the exception of two or three days in July, when a few shots 

 were got inshore, all the catch was got on the offshore fishing grounds. 

 The average price for herrings landed by steamers was 22s. lOd. per cran, for 

 motor boats 20s., for sail boats 19s. 6d., and the average price for the whole 

 catch 21s. per cran. During the fishing 826 telegrams were sent to other 

 districts giving, at the time of despatch, the catch, range of prices, etc., while 

 398 telegrams were received from other districts and exhibited in the Fish- 

 market. These telegrams are very much appreciated and relied on by the 

 whole trade. 



The weather during the whole season was remarkably fine, and very warm 

 during July and August. 



Exports of cured herrings went on steadily during the season. A feature 

 of the direct exports now is, that cargoes are loaded at two or more ports, 

 and whole cargoes loaded at one port have now become the exception. 

 Besides the direct exports, about 25,000 barrels were sent coastwise or by 

 rail to other ports for export. 



The earnings of steam drifters will compare favourably with those of any 

 former year. Motor boats also did well, but while some of the sail boats 

 had good earnings, others did poorly. 



At the English herring fishing the whole fleet of steam drifters was em- 

 ployed, and, with the exception of one vessel which tried the West Coast 

 fishing, the motor boats also were at Yarmouth or Lowestoft. Only ten sail 

 boats went to England. Steam drifters and motor boats returned with very 

 good earnings. One or two of the sail boats scarcely earned enough to pay 

 expenses. A fisherman belonging to the district was knocked overboard and 

 drowned off Yarmouth. The loss of fishing gear at the English fishing was 

 less than in the former year, being estimated at about .£1800. 



Three native fishermen were drowned during the course of the summer 

 herring fishing. One motor boat was totally wrecked while fishing on the 

 West Coast ; otherwise, the loss of and damage to fishing gear was less than 

 in the previous year. 



The quantity of fish caught by small lines shows an improvement on the 

 former year, while the quantity caught by great lines is steadily on the 

 decrease. A Gamrie crew landed several shots of net-caught cod, all of 

 which were in a spawning condition. Several local crews tried this method 

 of fishing, but with poor results. 



The number of whole barrels made in the district was slightly less than in 

 the previous year, but the number of half-barrels shows an increase. 



Twenty cargoes of fishery stock were sent to England, 15 cargoes to 

 Shetland, 11 cargoes to Orkney, 1 to Castlebay, and 10 cargoes of tinned 

 herrings were sent to London, while 17 cargoes of fishery salt and 14 cargoes 

 of staves and hoops were imported. 



Navigation classes for fishermen have been held during the past three 

 winters at five centres in the district, and 318 fishermen have attended these 

 classes, of whom 6 obtained certificates of competency as extra skippers, 138 

 obtained certificates of competency as skippers, and 50 obtained certificates of 

 competency as second hands ; besides which, 168 fishermen have got service 

 certificates as skippers and 98 as second hands. The teaching of navigation 

 is a subject in which fishermen have taken a keen interest, and the various 



