of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



7 



III. RE-ESTABLISHMENT, 

 (i) Introductory. 



The problem of re-establishment is fortunately simpler than was 

 at one time contemplated. It may be recalled that during the first 

 few months of the war dire foiebodings were expressed as to the fate 

 of our large and valuable fleet of fishing vessels, especially those which 

 were unsuitable for mine-sweeping. As a matter of fact the position 

 to-day is probably sounder financially than it was in August 1914, 

 as more than 80 per cent, of our steam drifters have been employed 

 by the Admiralty at rates yielding a satisfactory return on the capital 

 involved, and the keen rush to discard first-class sailing boats for 

 steamers received a wholesome check, with the further curious and 

 fortunate result that discarded boats were taken off the beach and 

 fitted with motor engines, which increased their earning capacity at 

 least twofold. 



Those boats which remained fishing have secured enormous earnings, 

 owing to the high price realised for fish through the general scarcity 

 of other food commodities, and the result has been that during the 

 war 800 sailing vessels have been fitted with motor engines. 



Apart from our minor or inshore fisheries, which have been sadly 

 neglected, particularly on the West Coast, we shall resume active 

 operations with a large and efficient fleet of fishing vessels and the 

 prospect of large catches of fish of all kinds due to the enforced close 

 time caused by the war, so that with proper organisation, and improved 

 methods of distribution and preservation — the twin, factors in con- 

 tinued development — the future presents brighter prospects than 

 might have been anticipated. 



The crux of the situation is, as already stated, distribution, and, 

 incidentally, improved methods of preservation, and these can. be 

 secured only by providing more efficient and quicker transport from 

 the ports of landing to the consuming centres. This problem applies 

 in the case of Scotland to a far greater degree than to the English 

 ports, as more than 80 per cent, of the herrings landed in Scotland was 

 exported, and about 50 per cent, of other kinds of fish was dispatched 

 by rail to the English markets, the Scottish catch being much greater 

 in proportion to the population than that of England and Wales. 



What we have to consider therefore is how we can induce the 

 British public to increase its consumption of this cheap and wholesome 

 article of diet, and having done this, how we can provide them with 

 it in the best possible condition. War has its blessings as well as 

 peace, and the serious scarcity of food which has prevailed on account 

 of the activities of submarine warfare has done more to advertise the 

 merits of a fish diet than any propaganda that could have been devised ; 

 let us therefore concentrate our minds on improved and cheaper 

 transport. 



(ii) Transport and Distribution. 



(a) Transport and Distribution. — The factors which bulk most 

 largely in the consideration of this problem are increased steamer and 

 railway facilities and lower railway rates. 



