36 



Appendices to Thirty -seventh Annual Report 



APPENDIX V. 



ANNUAL REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF SEA FISHERIES 

 AND FISHERY OFFICERS. 



General Inspector. 



The outstanding features in connection with the fisheries during the 

 year 1918 were the unprecedented prices paid for all kinds of fish, and the 

 earnings of fishermen engaged in the various fishings. In no past year 

 were the risks to life so great or the compensation so gratifying. In 

 herring alone the increased value as compared with 1917 was £973,286, 

 and on all kinds, exclusive of shell-fish, £2,346,678. In pre-war times 

 the bulk of the herring was cured for exportation. During 1918 nearly 

 all was put on the home markets, in common with all other lands. Certain 

 kinds formerly of little value realised high prices. Saithe, for instance, 

 which could be purchased for a few pence, realised 3s. to 6s. each, and are 

 now much appreciated. To those engaged in placing the fresh article 

 on the home market the risks were great and the profit frequently dis- 

 counted by heavy losses caused by delays in transit. Those engaged in 

 kippering did so well that this branch of the business was immensely 

 developed. The increase in the wages of shore workers compares favour- 

 ably with that in other industries. 



[Although there was little change in the number of vessels employed, 

 there was an extraordinary increase in the value of vessels and fishing 

 gear. An outstanding feature in connection with the means of capture 

 was the continued and gratifying increase in the number of cases in which 

 motors were installed in the largest and strongest of the old sail boats, 

 some of which are still available for the reception of motors. For the 

 year the increase was 188, exclusive of 26 smaller boats built for motors. 

 Nearly all the large motor boats were exclusively employed in herring 

 fishing and the smaller class in fine fishing. By the close of the year the 

 number of motor craft had increased to 1337, valued at £878,170. With 

 the powerful and reliable motors now available, the net and line fisheries 

 can be prosecuted to much better advantage than formerly. A number 

 of powerful steam trawlers and drifters were built to the order of the 

 Admiralty. These are not as yet accounted for as fishing craft, but will 

 in due course be available for fishing. 



Herring Fishing. 



The results all over for the 1918 and 1917 herring seasons and sections 

 were as follow : — 



Winter. 



Early Summer. Summer. 



Total. 



Yea, Can, 



Crans. 



Average n 

 Price? Crans - 



A prW ge Crans. A ™' a S e 

 Price. Price. 



s. d. 





s. 



d. 



s. d. 



s. d. 



1918 . 223,039 98 1 



124,578 



90 



5 241,452 



72 11 589,069 86 2 



1917 . 238,223 50 8 



98,745 



60 



1 226,559 



58 7 563,527 55 6 





Crans. 





Value. 



Average 

 Price. 



Percentage 

 of Total 

 Quantity. 









£ 



s. d. 



East Coast 



229,265 





907,589 



79 2 



38'9 



Shetland .... 



27,900 





49,040 



35 2 



4*7 



Minch .... 



277,384 





1,302,447 



93 11 



47-1 



Firth of Clyde . 



54,520 





278,034 



102 0 



9-3 



Totals 



589,069 





2,537,110 



86 1 



100-0 



