of the Fishery Board for Scotland* 61 



There were no lives lost during the year in connection with the fisheries 

 and very little damage done to boats or gear. 



A. J. Munro, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 



6th January 1919. 



Shetland District. 



The effects of war-time conditions on the chief Shetland fishery were 

 more apparent in 1918 than in any other year since the outbreak of 

 hostilities. 



The presence of enemy submarines on the northern grounds off Flugga 

 prevented fishermen from attempting herring fishing there in winter, 

 and March was well advanced before these grounds were visited, and then 

 by only a few crews. 



The situation regarding the disposal of the summer pickled herrings 

 was so uncertain that preparations for curing, even by resident curers, 

 were on a very limited scale. Fishermen, however, hoped that, in view 

 of the shortage of food stuffs, facilities would be provided for sending an 

 appreciable part of the catch to market in a sprinkled state. With that 

 in prospect, efforts were made to fit out as many boats as possible in May, 

 and in all 74 vessels were at work early in June. Herrings were very 

 abundant both on the Lerwick and Scalloway grounds, but it was soon 

 discovered that the comparatively small fleet of local boats would land 

 more herrings than were likely to be conveniently dealt with. Kipperers 

 bought as many herrings as they could deal with from day to day, but as 

 they could only absorb on an average from 120 to 180 crans per day, 

 and freshing facilities were inadequate and often lacking, great difficulty 

 was experienced in getting the bulk of the catch disposed of. In June the 

 climax was reached when, on two successive days at Lerwick and Scallo- 

 way, a number of crews with heavy takes could not get their fish disposed 

 of and had to throw them overboard. The quantity thus lost amounted 

 to over 2000 crans. The herrings were prime large and medium matjes 

 rich in fat, but owing to the delicate nature of the fish and the uncertainty 

 of finding a market for them in a cured state, curers were not disposed to 

 risk much capital in the business. The unfortunate turn of events had 

 a depressing effect on fishermen, and the majority of the crews decided to 

 remain ashore for a period, while the Scalloway motor boat crews aban- 

 doned operations and fitted out their boats for great fine fishing. The 

 transport arrangements were a worry to all concerned, and at the height 

 of the season the intervals between the sailings south frequently extended 

 to a week. Consignments of kippers often deteriorated waiting ship- 

 ment and in course of transit to market, and quantities were condemned 

 on arrival or sold at greatly reduced rates. Of the total catch of 27,900 

 crans, 10,288 crans were kippered and 3217 crans freshed. About 7000 

 barrels were cured ungutted, the greater part of which was afterwards 

 smoked and sold in home markets. A larger proportion Would have been 

 packed ungutted, but for the fact that the June and early July herrings 

 were so rich in fat and tender that curers anticipated they would not stand 

 soaking for conversion into reds, and subsequent experience proved that 

 they were right. Over 1000 barrels of these fat herrings remained on hand 

 at the close of the year. 



Early in May fresh herrings realised from 24s. to 67s. per cran, and as 

 high as 144s. per cran on one occasion. As the fleet increased and supplies 



