76 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



The winter herring fishing in the Firth of Forth and home waters was 

 disappointing, and some of the crews did not clear their working 

 expenses. 



In the early part of the year most of the steam drifters prosecuted 

 the herring fishing at Stornoway and Mallaig, and 4 motor boats were 

 engaged at Stranraer, chiefly with cod-nets and greatlines. The results 

 on the whole were fairly satisfactory. 



The fleet of steamers was subsequently employed in the prosecution 

 of the greatline fishing — chiefly from North Shields — from which the 

 fishermen derived a fair amount of remuneration. 



The summer herring fishing commenced at North Shields and Eye- 

 mouth early in May, and became general in the district by the beginning 

 of June. During the week ending 19th June the fishing was a complete 

 blank at most of the stations as the fishermen remained ashore, pending 

 a settlement of the Government Guarantee Scheme, which was then 

 under consideration. 



Up to the end of June quite a moderate fishing, 12,724 crans, value 

 £52,599, was landed at the various stations from North Shields to Eye- 

 mouth. The quality of the herrings was not such as to permit of curing, 

 but quite a healthy business was done in kippering and supplying the 

 fresh markets. 



Fishing operations were actively continued, by a fleet of from 80 to 

 200 steam drifters and 50 to 70 motor boats, till the closing of the 

 Government Scheme on 21st August, after which the number of vessels 

 gradually diminished. Yet from that date to the end of September 

 several of the boats did remarkably well, and the catch for that period 

 was 24,303 crans valued at £55,148, and would undoubtedly have been 

 considerably greater but for the fact that curing operations were sus- 

 pended, as the curers had no prospects of finding markets for the cured 

 article. 



The season was practically brought to an end on the 18th September. 



The total landings for the season in the English section of the district 

 were 69,561 crans, valued at £194,591, and, in the Scottish section, 

 17,152 crans, valued at £45,269. 



Prices ranged from 6s. to 208s. per cran, with an average of about 

 553. 4d. per cran, as against 453. 4d. in 1919. 



Compared with the previous year, the above figures exhibit a decrease 

 of 4346 crans, but an increase of £33,448. With the exception of a 

 decrease of 15,056 crans at North Shields, there was an improvement in 

 the landings of all the stations in the district. 



The fishing grounds were over a wide area, 5 to 65 miles offshore, but 

 the principal waters fished were from 10 to 20 miles N.E. .and S.E. of the 

 Fame Islands. 



Caring operations were carried on at all the stations at which herrings 

 were landed, but chiefly at Spittal and Eyemouth. Kippering was also 

 carried on throughout the year, supplies of fresh herrings being brought 

 from other parts of the coast when not obtainable locally. 



Only one part cargo of cured herrings was shipped direct to the 

 Continent, and a few hundred barrels of unbranded herrings were railed 

 to Leith for export. 



As mo3t of the fishermen gave so much of their time and attention 

 to the prosecution of the herring fishing, it is not altogether surprising 

 that the results of the line fishing by motor and sail boats were not so 

 satisfactory as could be desired. 



The total landings amounted to 8685 cwts., valued at £13,858, as 

 compared with 13,752 cwts. and £29,906 in 1919. 



The average price percwt. was 31s. lid. as against 48s. Id. last year. 



