of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



39 



and the earnings were the highest on record. In the Inverness Firth 

 sprats were less plentiful, but there was an abundant supply of small - 

 sized herrings which more than compensated for the partial failure of the 

 sprat fishing. 



The shell-fisheries are the most reliable branch of the industry and 

 vary little annually. For the year the total value of all kinds amounted 

 to £74,895. The lobster fishery is the most valuable, and is susceptible 

 of improvement. It is pretty much confined to the West Coast, and is 

 prosecuted by small-sized sail craft. Until motor power is applied to 

 fishing craft and facilities provided for bringing this much appreciated 

 article of food to the nearest rail head no improvement can be expected. 



(Signed) Wm. Jeffrey, 



General Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



Fishery Board for Scotland, 



Edinburgh, 18$ March 1919. 



Eyemouth District. 



The year under review was, from a piecuniary point of view, the most 

 successful ever experienced. The returns show a decrease on 1917 of 

 37,210 cwts. in quantity, but an increase of £5614 in value. The total 

 value of all fish landed constitutes a new record. In addition to their 

 success in home waters, a number of crews secured good results at the 

 herring fishing on the east and west coasts, Ireland, and more particularly 

 at Yarmouth. Fishcurers and the shore workers also shared in the 

 general prosperity. 



The slight changes in the means of capture for the English section 

 of the district do not call for remark. In the Scottish section 3 steam 

 drifters were lost while on Admiralty service, and a motor herring boat 

 was sunk in collision. The motor fleet remains practically the same as 

 in 1917. There were slight decreases in netting and lines. 



The summer herring fishing opened at North Shields in the beginning 

 of May, and about a month later at the other stations. A fair measure 

 of success was experienced up to the middle of July, but thereafter the 

 fishing >at the northern ports was almost a complete failure. Under 

 Admiralty orders the boats had to form two separate fleets ; consequently 

 when the northern grounds failed most of the Eyemouth fleet went to 

 North Shields, with the result that the ports from Eyemouth to North 

 Sunderland suffered accordingly. The fleet numbered 71 steam and 

 68 motor boats, the season being the first in which no sail boats have 

 taken part. The most successful week yielded 11,012 crans, of which 

 10,902 crans were landed at North Shields. The total catch was 60,950 

 crans as compared with 88,777 crans in 1917. About 90 per cent, of the 

 catch was landed at North Shields, all the steam vessels fishing from 

 that port. Prices ranged from 7s. to 154s. per cran, with an average of 

 91s. lOd. per cran against 53s. 5d. in the previous year. Of the catch 

 66 per cent, was landed by steam and 34 per cent, by motor vessels. 

 The principal fishing grounds were N.E. and S.E. of the Fame Islands. 

 One third of the catch was kippered. The fishing came to an abrupt 

 close on the 7th of September, by order of the Admiralty. During the 

 season the boats were kept ashore on several occasions owing to the 

 presence of submarines and mines. 



During the year 177 barrels of herrings were cured, and these sold at 

 controlled prices. 



