66 Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



and managed to keep their boats profitably employed during a dull 

 period. 



The Montrose district fleet was increased during the year by 18 

 trawlers,, a good many of which worked from Aberdeen. Most of the 

 others were short-trip trawlers, and they generally landed at Dundee. 

 The average price of trawl fish was 32s. 2d. per cwt., against 41s. 4d. in 



1919. The most successful trawler earned £12,000 during the year. 

 The Aberdeen trawling fleet increased during 1920 to 260 vessels, 



the greatest number ever employed at the port. The value of all fish 

 landed was a record, and the quantity came within 11 per cent, of the 

 catch for 1913, which was, and continues to be, the greatest on record. 

 Of the total landings at Aberdeen, 82 per cent, consisted of trawled fish, 

 of an average value of 26s. 9d. per cwt. 



Unfortunately the general results of the year's working were not so 

 satisfactory as these figures wonld lead one to expect. As a result of 

 the great increase in the catching power of the local fleet the market 

 was frequently congested, and prices then realised were so low that 

 debit settlements often resulted. Long-voyage trawlers were generally 

 the greatest sufferers, as short-trip trawlers realised good prices for some 

 landings, whereas a bad market for an Iceland voyage meant low 

 earnings for 3 or 4 weeks' work. The increase in working expenses was 

 a very serious matter. In 1913 coals co3t 15s. or 16s. per ton, while last 

 year prices were from 55s. to 60s. Fishing material cost about three 

 times as much as in pre-war days, while the loss of gear through fouling 

 sunken wrecks was on an unprecedented scale. One trawler is said to 

 have lost no fewer than 13 sets of gear during the course of the year. 



There were so many unprofitable voyages that owners laid up a 

 number of the large, long-voyage trawlers for three months. It is under- 

 stood that unless the large trawlers earn at least £1000 a month they do 

 not pay their way. One fortunate craft earned £20,500 during the year, 

 but that was quite an exceptional case, and a considerable number of 

 the largest trawlers finished the year in debt. 



The short-voyage trawlers were generally fairly fortunate, although 

 their earnings were greatly reduced on account of the low prices realised 

 for small haddocks and whitings, a good part of which went for manure.. 



The Faroe fishing was a failure. Fish were very scarce, and crews 

 often settled in debt even after trying to make up their loss by fishing 

 in the North Sea on the return voyage. 



The Iceland fishing also proved an unsatisfactory venture, and was 

 not prosecuted on a normal scale by Aberdeen trawlers. As a result, 

 neither catch nor value came up to the pre-war standard. Icelandic 

 fish are mostly bought for dry-curing, and a scarcity of competent 

 splitters handicapped Aberdeen curers to some extent. A good many 

 English trawlers landed wet-salted fish, which found more favour with 

 buyers on account of the saving of labour effected. 



The cod curing and drying industry was not conducted with the 

 usual energy. The lack of experienced workers handicapped business 

 to some extent, but the demand for cured fish was weak, and the 

 condition of the exchange restricted exports to the usual foreign markets. 



Trawling for herrings was commenced about the end of August and 

 was continued, with more or less regularity, for about 6 weeks. In all, 

 71 trawlers participated, making from 1 to 6 voyages, and totalling 

 180 arrivals. They worked on the Fladden grounds, about 120 to 150 

 miles N.E. by E. from Aberdeen, where herrings of fine quality were 

 got. This area had often been fished by the Aberdeen fleet before, but 

 herrings had never before been found so plentiful there. The catch for 



1920, amounting to 10,844 crans, was purchased, mostly for kippering, 



