32 



Thirty -ninth Annual Report 



November, the Committee, having disposed of all matters then 

 outstanding, delegated further responsibilities to a Standing Sub- 

 Committee consisting of the four representatives of the Government 

 Departments (viz., Ministry of Food, Ministry of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries, Ministry of Transport and Fishery Board for Scotland), 

 with instructions to consider questions arising and, if necessary, 

 convene a full Committee meeting. 



The position at the end of 1920 was that there had been a 

 considerable all-round improvement in the railway facilities for fish 

 from Scotland to the English markets, and arrangements had been 

 made so far as possible to ensure the arrival of the special fish trains 

 in time for the opening of the morning markets. For instance, the 

 Aberdeen daily fish trains, 1.30 p.m. by the West Coast route and 

 1.45 p.m. by the East Coast route, were scheduled to arrive in London 

 respectively at 3.30 a.m. (Broad Street) and 3.35 a.m. (King's Cross), 

 in time, therefore, for the opening of Billingsgate Market ; whereas 

 in the first few months of the year the Aberdeen fish train leaving 

 at 1.30 p.m. travelled via Carlisle and the Midland Kail way and was 

 not due in London (St. Pancras) until 6.32 a.m., and it was found 

 that the fish, which at the best could not be delivered at Billingsgate 

 until the morning market was well advanced, had frequently to be 

 held over until the following day. The provincial towns in England 

 also benefited from the speeding up of the Aberdeen daily fish trains 

 by an earlier delivery of the fish at their morning markets, and at 

 the same time many other Scottish ports were able, owing to their 

 geographical position, to take advantage of these special facilities 

 from Aberdeen to the South. 



During the year under review, several complaints as affecting 

 fishery interests have been referred to the Board from ports in the 

 Outer Islands and Western Highlands regarding the delay of the 

 steamers on the West Coast services or their inability at times to 

 carry out their full programme ; suggestions have also been received 

 proposing various alterations or additions to the services. In each 

 instance the facts have been investigated by the Inspector, and 

 where necessary representation has been made to the responsible 

 authorities. It is at all times a serious problem for the smaller 

 fishing communities on the West Coast and the Islands to get their 

 catch to market, and owing to various circumstances the steamer 

 services on the West Coast are always run under great difficulties, 

 while the local transport arrangements are often inadequate, and in 

 many cases the fish traffic is uncertain and not of any considerable 

 volume. Improvement of the facilities for transport of fish in this 

 area is largely dependent on the improvement of the transport 

 generally, and the question has been receiving the consideration of 

 the several Government Departments concerned. It is hoped that 

 increased trade will lead to the provision of additional facilities, to 

 the benefit especially of these smaller fishing ports which rely 

 exclusively on the steamer service for the transport of their fish to 

 the railheads for dispatch to the southern markets. 



The steamship communications in the Orkneys and Shetlands have 

 also received the consideration of the Board, who in general were 

 able to support the recommendations of the Eural Transport 

 (Scotland) Committee. 



