52 



Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



The fish landed were all sent in a fresh state to the home markets, 

 chiefly to London and Midland towns, the prices ruling being much too 

 high for pickling or drying purposes during the whole season. 



The herring fishing in home waters was taken part in by a fleet varying 

 from 30 to 40 sail boats during June and July, and by local vessels coming 

 home from other districts for week-ends. The total quantity of herrings 

 landed in the district was 9111 crans, valued at £32,608. Compared 

 with the previous year, the total catch shows an increase of 3370 crans 

 in quantity, and in value of £19,607, or an average of 71s. lid. per cran, 

 as against 48s. 4d. per cran in 1917. The herrings were chiefly kippered 

 and freshed and sent to the home markets. 



At the close of the season at home 30 steam and 70 motor vessels 

 fitted out for the English herring fishing at Yarmouth. The gross earn- 

 ings of steam drifters employed there ranged from £3000 up to £6500, 

 and of motor boats from £2000 to £2500. These vessels had also equal 

 success in Scottish waters, and their aggregate gross earnings for herring 

 fishing during the year would exceed £480,000. 



The small line and hand-line fishings each received more than the 

 usual amount of attention, and gave steady employment to the older 

 class of fishermen who follow them in the spring and autumn months. 

 The number of small boats employed was from 30 to 50, and their landings 

 show a decrease in quantity compared with the preceding year, but an 

 increase in value of £1916. The fish were generally sold at controlled 

 prices, and the average price for the year was 52s. Id. per cwt., as com- 

 pared with 40s. 3Jd. in 1917. 



Barrel-making in the district was in abeyance, the coopers being 

 employed chiefly in the kippering of herrings, despatching fish to market, 

 and other work in connection with the trade. 



Boat-builders were unusually busy during the year. Four steam 

 vessels were launched, which were taken over by the Admiralty when 

 completed, and a considerable amount of work was done in repairing 

 and overhauling vessels in the Admiralty service, and in installing motor 

 power in sailing boats. Motor engines were installed into 18 first-class 

 sail boats, and orders are still uncompleted for other boats. 



Unfortunately one sail boat when engaged at cod net fishing foundered 

 with her crew of 8 men during a gale in February, and another boat was 

 wrecked. The loss of fishing material was trifling. 



A retrospect of the year closed reveals the fact that it has been the 

 most remunerative on record for those who prosecuted the district fisheries, 

 while those who prosecuted the herring fishings throughout the whole 

 year from the various fishing stations around the coast were also exceed- 

 ingly successful. The earnings of workers in other branches of the in- 

 dustry were equally remunerative. 



James Stewart, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Buckie, 18^ January 1919. 



Findhorn District. 



It is satisafctory to report that during the fourth year of war, when 

 the food supply was of such vital importance, the yield of the district 

 fisheries was more than double that of 1917, the actual increase in the 

 quantity landed amounting to 72,540 cwts. The result was due to (1) the 

 excellent results obtained at the small herring fishing at Inverness, (2) the 



