220 



Appendices to Thirtieth Annual Report 



than in 1910, but the local boats landed most of their herrings at Lerwick 

 and neighbouring stations. One Shetland crew earned .£730, a few had 

 about £ 600, and the average for the Sandwick and Burra Isle fleets, which 

 were the best-fished in the district, was about .£400. The earnings of the 

 steam drifters were less by at least £100, but probably nearer £200, than in 

 1910. A good many crews had over £1000, and exceptionally up to £1400 ; 

 but perhaps £800 to £900 would be a fair average to estimate for boats that 

 worked the whole season here. 



With a steadily rising market curers did very well during the first two 

 months, but owing to scarcity of herrings in July competition was very keen, 

 and prices for fresh fish were too high to allow much margin for profit for 

 the remainder of the season. The quality of the cured herrings, however, 

 appeared to give satisfaction, and, as curers were able to sell and ship 

 promptly, they had, on the whole, a good season. Crown-branded herrings, 

 especially La. Fulls, were very much in demand, and several trade-mark 

 curers recommenced branding. The total number of barrels branded was 

 50 per cent, greater than in 1910, although the catch was considerably less. 



Two Lerwick fishing vessels were again fitted out for curing at sea, but, as 

 formerly, they ran to Lerwick and sold their bigger catches fresh, and only 

 cured their smaller lots. Between them they cured 800 barrels, as against 

 700 last year, and these sea-cured herrings sold well. 



Two steamers were again chartered to carry roused herrings to 

 Hamburg, and continued running for about half the season. A Leith 

 shipping firm had also two steamers running regularly from Lerwick to 

 Hamburg. Most of the cured herrings sent to Hamburg were shipped by 

 these direct steamers, instead of by the mail boats via Leith, as was formerly 

 the case. 



A fair trade was done in mackerel curing, mostly by Norwegians, who 

 brought their vessels here and cured their fish on board. About a dozen of 

 these vessele were at Lerwick during the season and cured and carried away 

 over a thousand barrels. A few hundred barrels were also cured on shore by 

 local fish-curers. 



The landings of cod, ling, etc., were 82 per cent, better than in 1910. 

 This gratifying improvement is partly accounted for by an increase in great- 

 line-caught fish, and partly by the great quantities of cod, ling, and saithe caught 

 by means of hand-lines during the herring fishing season. English fishermen 

 especially give great attention to this method of fishing, and earn considerable 

 sums off their hand-lines and rippers during the Shetland season. The 

 islanders of Foula, who use only small open boats, also caught considerable 

 quantities of very fine cod by means of hand-lines and rippers. With the decrease 

 in the fleet of herring boats, and the increase in ihe number of second-class 

 skiffs, a good many Shetland fishermen are showing an inclination to revert 

 to the great-line fishing in summer. Motor skiffs are being found very 

 suitable for great-line fishing. No local vessels are now fitted out for the 

 Faroe and Icelandic cod fishing, but between 300 and 400 tons of wet-salted 

 cod, etc., were landed by Faroe vessels and purchased by Shetland curers. 



At haddock fishing comparatively little was done at the out-stations, but 

 owing to increases both at Scalloway and Lerwick, the season's catch and 

 value were greater than in 1910. Very stormy weather was experienced 

 during the last two months of the year ; the whole fleet was frequently 

 prevented from getting to sea for days, and sometimes only the larger 

 skiffs were able to work. The fishermen at some of the stations are still 

 consigning their own haddocks to market, but most of the Lerwick and 

 Scalloway crews are working under engagements. 



Three Shetland steam drifters went to the English herring fishing, where 

 their earnings averaged over £770. For the whole year's working, varying 

 from seven to ten months' constant employment, the four Shetland drifters 

 averaged £1755. 



