62 Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



became heavier in June, prices fell to a figure as low as 5s. per cran, and 

 remained at 5s. to 27s. per cran for three weeks. 



Fortunately for curers, the United States Government decided to allow 

 cured herrings to be imported into that country in August, and curers 

 were able to dispose of the greater part of their cured gutted herrings at 

 prices which left a fair margin of profit. Coincident with the removal of 

 the embargo, the shoals of herrings disappeared from the coast, and prices 

 of fresh herrings advanced to 40s. per cran and centred round that figure, 

 gradually advancing till at the end of the season, in September, 126s. 

 was reached. 



Sailing boats grossed generally from £300 to £600, while one crew 

 earned £1400. One steam drifter had £3500, and the most successful 

 motor boat had £2850 at the summer fishing. The unexpected disappear- 

 ance of the shoals early in autumn was a great disappointment to the 

 crews of sail boats, largely composed of crofter fishermen, who hoped to 

 profit by the advance in the prices offered for fresh herrings at that time. 

 The earnings did not fully compensate them for the comparatively high 

 outlay incurred in fitting out their boats for herring fishing. 



Fishermen who prosecuted line fishing throughout the year had higher 

 earnings than ever before in their experience. Halibut fishing alone, 

 which was resorted to by Scalloway and Burra Isle motor crews chiefly, 

 brought the men engaged £15,425. In 1917 the value of halibut landed in 

 the district was £825. Haddock fishing was also very remunerative to 

 the crews of both motor and sail boats. The quantity of haddocks landed 

 was similar to the catch of the preceding year, but £12,231 moie were 

 realised for the produce. The greater part of the halibut and haddock catch 

 was sent gutted and iced to Aberdeen, where maximum prices were gener- 

 ally secured. 



Fisher girls who usually found employment as gutters and packers and 

 were not engaged in that capacity in 1918 turned their attention to the 

 knitting of woollen goods, which brought an ample livelihood. 



The most noteworthy fact in connection with the fisheries was again 

 the success of second-class motor boats at line fishing, resulting in a further 

 increase in the number of these boats. Line fishing was chiefly concen- 

 trated at Lerwick and Scalloway, and the majority of the regular fisher- 

 men at both places now have motor engines installed in their boats. 



Alex. E. M'Kenzie, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Lerwick, 10th January 1919. 



Stomoway District. 



The year's fishing operations were conducted on the usual lines, drift- 

 netting for herrings taking the leading place. Great and small line 

 fishings were engaged in, but only in a desultory fashion, while there was 

 nothing calling for special mention regarding the operations of the lobster 



crews. 



The waters in which the fleet was permitted to work were prescribed by 

 Admiralty Orders, and were the same as in 1917. 



There is not much material change in the catching power of the district 

 fleet. Two first-class and one second-class motor boats were sold to ports 

 outside the district, while against this two first- and four second-class old 

 sail boats got motors installed. The engines of the former are called 

 the " Clyde " and cost £1000 each, while those of the latter are known as 

 the " Kelvin," and the price paid was £163 each. There is, however, a 



