of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



53 



increase of 95 in the number of fishermen employed, and (3) the rapid 

 installation of motor engines into fishing boats. 



In common with other districts, an outstanding feature of the year 

 was the abnormal prices prevailing for all kinds of fish, which resulted 

 in remarkably high earnings for the fishermen and which are reflected 

 in the total value of fish landed, which shows an increase of £131,092 as 

 compared with 1917. This large increase would undoubtedly have been 

 greater were it not for the action taken early in the year by the Ministry 

 of Food in fixing maximum prices for fish. 



The principal feature in connection with the means of capture was 

 the large increase, amounting to 93 per cent., in the number of motor 

 boats, chiefly of the second class, which are found most suitable for line 

 fishing. Several orders were placed for motor engines for the large 

 sailing boats, and were it not for the long delay experienced in getting 

 these orders fulfilled the number equipped would have been considerably 

 increased. 



Fifty-four district crews prosecuted herring fishing for periods varying 

 from a few weeks to nine months, the earnings from this source being 

 fully £40,000 in excess of the amount earned during 1917. Operations 

 were conducted chiefly at Fraserburgh during the summer season with 

 considerable success, while the few steam drifters and large motor boats 

 available also earned large sums at the West Coast, English, and Isle of 

 Man fishings. The most successful crew earned upwards of £13,000 at 

 herring fishing during the year. 



During the early summer fair catches of herrings were obtained in 

 the Moray Firth, and for a few weeks a number of the small motor boats 

 were employed in drift net fishing, but as catches proved disappointing 

 line fishing was resumed. 



At Inverness herring fishing was prosecuted during the first two and 

 last four months of the year with exceptional results, the increase as 

 compared with 1917 amounting to 49,644 cwts. and £40,264 in quantity 

 and value respectively. Over 40 crews from Avoch, Cromarty, Ardersier, 

 and Nairn were employed, and earnings ranged from £1000 to £3000. 

 Prices ranged mostly from £2 to £6 per cran, although for a short period 

 during the autumn, when the English fishing yielded heavy supplies, 

 prices at Inverness fell as low as 10s. per cran. Three-fourths of the 

 catch were despatched to the principal English centres, while local require- 

 ments and tinning and other requirements from other districts absorbed 

 the remainder. 



Line fishing was vigorously prosecuted throughout the year by a fleet 

 of from 80 to 100 boats, and accounted for an increase of 16,732 cwts. 

 in the quantity landed as compared with 1917. While an increased 

 number of men were employed, the rapid installation of motor engines 

 into the boats employed materially affected landings, particularly from 

 the distant grounds, which invariably yielded best results. Three-fourths 

 of the line catch consisted of haddocks, and as showing how prices ad- 

 vanced it may be stated that the average price per cwt. for haddocks 

 during 1918 was 56s. against 44s. in 1917. Increased attention was 

 also devoted to great fine fishing during the summer season by the motor 

 boats, and good catches of cod, ling, skate, and halibut were landed. 



Cod net fishing was prosecuted during the spring months by 9 motor 

 and 12 sailing boats, and for a short period by 2 steam drifters, and 

 although heavy catches were seldom secured, the abnormal prices pre- 

 vailing, ranging as high as £23 per score, resulted in large earnings being 

 made, ranging from £500 to £2000 per crew. Compared with the previous 

 season, the results showed an increase of 2893 cwts. in quantity and £18,951 

 in value. 



