of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



221 



Considerable stocks of empty barrels were left over at the end of the 

 herring fishing, but they were practically all shipped off to the English 

 coast. Coopers had a good year ; all of them had constant employment 

 before and during the herring season, and most of them were re-engaged 

 immediately after the close of the fishing. About 100 coopers are employed 

 during the winter by the local fish-curers, and two barrel factories employ 

 over 120 coopers and labourers during the winter. 



Boat-builders had a fairly busy year. The output of new boats included 

 four second-class motor skiffs for Scalloway and Burra Isle owners, and 

 motor engines were installed into three second-hand skiffs. Motor boats are 

 now being found useful for the ferry trade among the islands, and for this 

 purpose two new boats were built and fitted during the year. 



In January a small boat belonging to Bressay ran ashore on a submerged 

 rock during a snowstorm, and two of the crew were drowned ; and in 

 December two Burra Isle fishermen were drowned through the swamping of 

 their boat. Both crews were returning from the haddock fishing. Fishing 

 operations were carried on during the year with little loss of fishing material, 

 owing largely to the fine weather experienced in summer. 



The fishery barometers in the district are in good order and well looked 

 after. 



There was no improvement in the catch of the different fishings during 

 the year when compared with 1910. On the contrary, a considerable 

 decrease in the catch of both net and line fish occurred. The Minch yielded 

 poor results. The fishing grounds on the west side of . the island were 

 seldom visited, even by steam drifters, during the progress of the winter 

 and summer fishings. Local boats were not successful at either net or line 

 fishing. None of them went to England or Ireland. Four sailers and a 

 steam drifter were at Wick for a short period in July, but their success was 

 poor. Fewer boats were employed in line-fishing than in 1910, owing partly 

 to the fact that many fishermen proceeded elsewhere for employment in 

 fishing as hired hands in steam drifters and sailers, while a number left for 

 America. Steam trawlers, which regularly frequented the district, landed 

 occasionally small quantities of fish. Steam liners from Aberdeen and other 

 ports called frequently during the year for herring bait, on their passage to 

 the fishing grounds. Some of these landed occasionally during the winter 

 months excellent takes of cod and ling. Hired men and women workers had 

 a good season at the different herring stations from Shetland to Lowestoft. 

 There were 1600 of the former and 2500 of the latter employed away from 

 home. Fifteen local fishermen, who had not attended navigation classes, 

 obtained certificates of service as skippers, and nine obtained certificates as 

 second hands. Another, who had not attended classes, obtained a skipper's 

 certificate by examination. A steam trawler and a steam drifter were 

 acquired by local owners in May, 1911 — anew development. Otherwise 

 there was very little change in the number of fishing craft, further than that 

 the larger-sized herring boats are on the down grade year after year. Five 

 were struck off the register during the year, and were replaced by smaller 

 craft. There was no change in fishing material. 



From 70 to 100 steam vessels, 3 motor boats, and 5 sailers were engaged 

 in the winter herring fishing, which opened on the 3rd of January, and 



Fishery Office, 

 Lerwick, 6th January 1912. 



K. Dutttie, 



Fishery Officer. 



III. — West Coast. 



Stornoioay District. 



