60 Appendices to Thirty- seventh Annual Report 



Orkney District. 



The unavoidable restrictions which had such a serious effect on the 

 fisheries of the Orkney district during the first three years of the war 

 were maintained throughout 1918, with the same adverse effect, and the 

 value of all fish landed, though slightly better than in the previous year, 

 only amounted to about 10 per cent, of the average value of fish landed 

 in normal years. 



The enforced suspension of the herring fishing is entirely responsible 

 for the great shrinkage. 



In normal years the herring fishery in the Orkney waters was of con- 

 siderable importance and accounted for about 90 per cent, of the quantity 

 and value of all fish landed, whereas under present conditions no herrings 

 are being landed. 



The only branches of the- industry which were prosecuted during the 

 year were line and lobster fishing, and from certain creeks the restrictions 

 were so rigid that even these branches had to be suspended. 



When boats were at sea, the results obtained from line fishing were 

 generally good, considering the fact that the fishing grounds were limited 

 to within 2 miles from land. Most of the boats, however, were generally 

 manned by crofters, old men and boys, who only went to the fishing 

 when they were not employed on the land ; consequently the fishing was 

 only prosecuted in a desultory manner. 



The few crews who prosecuted the fishing regularly did very well, 

 and the results from this branch of the industry exceed those of the previous 

 year by 1763 cwts. in the quantity and £4857 in value. 



The demand for white fish was always good, and in addition to those 

 landed by district fishermen, supplies had to be brought into the district 

 from Shetland, Aberdeen, and other places in order to supply the demands 

 of the Navy. 



The lobster fishing, on the other hand, yielded poorer results than in 

 1917 ; not, however, because the grounds were less prolific, but owing to 

 a number of the crofter fishermen being called up for active service, so 

 that fewer crews participated in this fishing than during the preceding year. 



Those who did operate met with much better results than usual, 

 securing better takes of lobsters and receiving better prices. 



During the year prices for lobsters ranged from lOd. to 2s. 8d. each, 

 whilst the average price was Is. 8d., compared with Is. 6d. in 1917 and 

 Is. 2d. in 1916. 



Owing to the local herring fishing fleet having been composed entirely 

 of sail boats unsuitable for Admiralty service, and to the majority of those 

 who formed their crews being in the navy, most of the boats have been 

 lying idle since the outbreak of the war. 



The high prices offered by Moray Firth and other fishermen for herring 

 fishing sail boats in order to have them installed with motor engines 

 during induced a number of the Orkney fishermen to sell their boats, 

 and have the year 14 first-class boats were disposed of along with the 

 fishing gear, the means of capture for the district being thus considerably 

 reduced. 



Only one boat belonging to the district was fitted out for the herring 

 fishing during the year. This boat operated from Peterhead, Fraserburgh, 

 and Wick during the great summer herring fishing, and the gross earnings 

 amounted to over £1000. 



Boat-builders were busily employed throughout the year on Admiralty 

 work, and were unable to accept any orders for fishing boats ; conse- 

 quently none was built. 



