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Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



fleet of boats operating from the port than in former years, the congestion at 

 the piers was greatly felt. Frequently boats had to wait for hours before 

 they could secure discharging berths, while on different occasions drifters left 

 with their fish for other ports. When the new pier is completed it should 

 go a long way to relieve the congestion, but as the number of curers is 

 gradually increasing it naturally follows that the fleet of boats will also 

 gradually increase, and at present the harbour extensions are not nearly 

 keeping pace with the growth of the industry. The new scheme for providing 

 a supply of water on the old pier was completed and is greatly appreciated 

 by the fishermen, and it is intended to have the supply extended to the new 

 pier by next season. 



With the exception of a small quantity freshed and kippered at Kirkwall, 

 all the herrings landed in the district were cured gutted. For cured herrings 

 there was little demand during the first few weeks, but as the season 

 advanced the catches at the large curing centres fell short, and prices for all 

 kinds hardened, and there was a good demand to the end of the season at 

 higher prices than in 1910. 



The following Table shows the development of the herring fishing in the 

 Orkney district during the past three years : — 



Year. Total Orans landed. Total Value. 



1909 - - - 45,462 - £59,259 



1910 - - - 93,089 - - 92,543 



1911 - - - 114,753 - - 136,760 



The landings of trawled fish, which consisted chiefly of cod from Icelandic 

 waters, were used principally for curing purposes, and exhibit an increase 

 over the landings of the previous year. Prices ranged from £6 to £8 per 

 ton. 



On the other hand, the quantity of wet salted fish landed by Faroe smacks 

 shows a great falling off. The total quantity landed by 13 smacks amounted 

 to only 383 tons, whereas in 1910 26 smacks landed 749 tons. Prices were 

 about the same as in 1910, the average price per ton being £13 10s. 



Line fishing receives little attention in this district. The results for the 

 year were about the average, and show little variation from those of the 

 preceding year. 



Towards the end of the year dense shoals of sillocks were found in Holm, 

 Kirkwall, and Stromness harbours, particularly the latter, where over 400 

 tons were landed during December. The fish were readily disposed of for 

 manure purposes at about 10s. per ton. 



Of the shell-fish fisheries, lobster fishing is the most important, but for 

 several years back there has been a gradual decline in the catch, and the year 

 under review was no exception. 



Fortunately no lives were lost during the year in connection with the 

 fisheries, and the damage done to boats and fishing gear was small. 



Fishery Office, A. J. Munro, 



Kirkwall, 5th January 1912. Fishery Officer. 



Shetland District. 



As compared with the preceding year, the returns for Shetland district 

 for 1911 show a net decrease of 249,463 cwts., valued at £47,288. The 

 whole of this shortcoming is due to the falling off in the herring fishing. 

 There is a considerable increase in the quantity and value of nearly all other 

 kinds of fish. Herrings, however, still compose about 95 per cent, of the 

 total quantity and value of fish landed in the district. 



