24 



Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



the trawling industry was considerably affected by the coal strike 

 in the autumn, when it was found necessary to restrict bunker 

 supplies to 50 per cent, of normal requirements. For the carrying 

 out of the rationing scheme the intimate knowledge of the industry 

 possessed by the Board's staff was at once made available. Towards 

 the end of the year a demand for a 50 per cent, increase in wages 

 was made by the men employed on the Aberdeen trawlers, but in 

 view of the fact that a large number of the vessels were being run 

 at a loss the claim was never regarded seriously, except as an 

 indication of the opposition which the generally anticipated reduction 

 in wages would meet. 



A chart showing the course of the average weekly prices of white 

 fish at Aberdeen for the years 1913, 1918, 1919 and 1920 is repro- 

 duced opposite. In 1920 prices were well maintained, usually about 

 the maxima prescribed by the Fish (Prices) Order, 1919, during 

 January and the early part of February, but thereafter fell away, 

 and never really recovered. The control of fish prices became merely 

 nominal, and the Order was suspended as from 17th May, although 

 not abrogated before the end of the year. 



Great Lining. 



Steam lining was conducted chiefly from Aberdeen, at which 

 port over 85 per cent, of the catch was landed. Great lines were 

 used occasionally also by large motor vessels, usually when small 

 lining was unproductive. 



The great-line vessels working from Aberdeen consisted of two 

 classes, namely large vessels, in many instances converted trawlers, 

 which ran long voyages to the Faroes, Rockall, St. Kilda, Eagle 

 Island and other distant northern and western grounds, and vessels 

 of the drifter class belonging to various East Coast ports, which 

 fished chiefly for cod in the North Sea. As prices for line fish were 

 never depressed to the same extent as those for trawl fish, great 

 lining by steam vessels was probably the most successful branch of 

 fishing prosecuted during the year, and the larger vessels especially 

 had a profitable season, securing on the distant grounds excellent 

 shots of halibut, which represented more than half the value of the 

 total great-line catch for the year. The number of large liners was 

 augmented during the summer months by vessels which were finding 

 long voyage trawling unremunerative, although unfortunately a few 

 of them were no more successful at lining. All these vessels had 

 reverted to trawling by the end of September in view of the advent 

 of less settled weather. As the prospects for the herring fishing 

 early in the year were doubtful, many of the vessels of the drifter 

 class prolonged the great-line fishing for cod, which is carried on in 

 the spring and early summer, with fairly satisfactory results. 



Great-line fishing for cod in the North Sea was carried on during 

 the same period by Eyemouth drifters based on North Shields ; but 

 their catches are not included among the Scottish landings. 



On the West Coast operations were conducted from Mallaig and 

 Oban by a few East Coast steam and motor vessels in the early part 

 of the year ; conger eels, roker and cod were the principal kinds 

 taken. 



