of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



49 



number of special trains to carry away such a huge quantity of food, 

 and although there was some grumbling by consigners when a heavy 

 day's fishing had to be despatched, the railway officials deserve credit 

 for the facilities provided. All the home markets got a fair proportion 

 of the catch, especially London, the Midlands of England, and Glasgow. 

 It was quite common during the busy season for from 140 to 200 railway 

 trucks to be loaded and despatched daily. During the season about 

 20,000 tons of herrings were despatched from the railway station in 

 8000 trucks. 



Large quantities of mackerel and saithe were also caught during the 

 herring fishing season, and for these good prices, frequently reaching 

 the maximum controlled prices, were paid. 



Line fishing was regularly carried on by 100 motor " Baldie " boats 

 and yawls for about seven months of the year. These boats were manned 

 chiefly by the older class of fishermen. As regards value, the line fishing 

 was also the best in the history of the port, the quantity landed being 

 almost double, and the value nearly three times as much as in the former 

 year. The medium sized motor boats were again remarkably successful at 

 line fishing, daily earnings of from £20 to £40 being of frequent occurrence. 



Government mine sweepers with otter trawls on board landed 2939 

 cwts., valued at £9164, of trawled fish, mostly haddocks and plaice. 



Boat -builders were kept busy at high wa ges throughout the year 

 building and repairing vessels for the Government. Except during the 

 herring fishing season, the cooper trade was dull throughout the year. 



There was again a large increase in the number of motor boats, 39 

 additional vessels, most of which were of the largest size, having had 

 motors installed. The number of motor boats registered in the district 

 is now 151. At the end of the year there were about 20 large boats in the 

 harbour whose crews have ordered motors waiting until they can be pro- 

 cured from the makers. The favourite engine is the " Kelvin," and twin 

 engines of 30 h.p. with two propellers have been found most suitable. 



Only a small quantity of saithe was cured dried. There was such a 

 keen demand for fresh fish of all kinds in the home markets that it was 

 found more profitable to despatch them at once. Herring curing was very 

 much restricted owing to the controlled price, and only 7183 barrels were 

 cured gutted and 12,876 ungutted, a portion of the latter being intended 

 for making "reds." 



The fish offal produced locally was easily dealt with by the Company 

 here. They have also extracted the oil from, and turned into manure, a 

 large proportion of the Iceland cured herrings which have been stored 

 here for several years. 



Now that the war is over, fishermen and all others connected with the 

 trade are looking forward to the time when the men and vessels that have 

 been in Government employ will be released, and the restrictions on 

 fishing removed, so that the industry may again resume its normal con- 

 dition. 



Geo. Cormack, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Fraserburgh, 10^ January 1919. 



Banff District. 



Notwithstanding the stringent nature of the naval restrictions at sea, 

 the results of the district fisheries for the past year have been most gratify- 



