38 



Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



on which the herrings feed. For those fish there is always a good demand 

 in Glasgow and elsewhere, hence the high average price of 102s. per cran 

 for the year under review. The fishing is carried on throughout the greater 

 part of the year. The fleet consists almost wholly of small-sized motor 

 boats manned by local men, and the method of fishing is by the seine 

 net. Since the outbreak of war all have done well, and it is no secret that 

 a number of the most industrious and successful fishermen have earned 

 sufficient to keep them comfortable for a number of years. 



Disposal of Catch. 



With the exception of about 63,000 crans cured gutted and un- 

 gutted, all was placed on the home markets, chiefly in a fresh and kippered 

 condition. In pre-war times this would have been considered an im- 

 possible task, and all connected with the industry realise their indebted- 

 ness to the Government Departments, Railway Companies, and the many 

 private individuals who took a personal interest in the undertaking. 



To those who purchased the herrings as landed and placed them on 

 the market in a fresh condition the results were at times highly satisfactory, 

 but towards the close of the season the losses were frequently so heavy 

 that it is doubtful if many of the buyers had a profitable season. On the 

 other hand, to all engaged in kippering the results exceeded the most 

 sanguine expectations, and this branch of the industry is being developed 

 to an extraordinary extent, 



Line Fishing. 



Owing to Naval requirements very little was done at great line fishing 

 on the East Coast. Good results were, however, obtained by a number 

 of East Coast steam and motor craft operating from Mallaig. The various 

 kinds of large -sized fish such as cod, ling, conger, skate, etc.,. were plentiful 

 in the Minch and southward. Prices throughout ruled high, and single 

 takes frequently realised from £300 to £500. The earnings of those em- 

 ployed during the greater part of the year ranged up to £6000, and the 

 value of the total landings amounted to £161,179. 



Small line fishing on the East Coast, chiefly for haddock, was pro- 

 secuted with vigour and unprecedented success. In the districts of 

 Montrose, Banff, and Findhorn the combined catch was valued at £485,351. 

 The success was largely due to the efficiency and increase in the number 

 of small-sized motor boats, which accounted for an increase of 62*1 per 

 rent, in quantity and 130*8 per cent, in value. All over there was a 

 marked increase in the quantity and value of line-caught fish. 



Trawling. 



Trawling operations were practically confined to Aberdeen, Leith, and 

 Dundee. Contrasted with the preceding year, there was a slight decrease 

 in the quantity landed, yet the increase in value was £416,827. The 

 small and medium-sized vessels fished on the inshore and nearer offshore 

 grounds, the larger vessels in Shetland waters. 



Other Fishings. 



Cod net fishing in the Moray Firth and elsewhere was prosecuted with 

 good success, and as prices ruled high the earnings were highly satisfactory. 

 The best results at sprat fishing were obtained in the Firth of Tay, 



