of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



77 



Comparatively few trips were made to the offshore grounds, operations 

 being chiefly carried on within 10 miles from land. 



Greater attention was given to the crab and lobster fishing, with the 

 result that the catch and value were more than double those of the 

 previous year. 



One of the local steam drifters, equipped as a trawler, engaged in 

 trawling operations with a fair measure of success daring the spring of 

 the year. The ports of landing were Granton, Eyemouth and North 

 Shields. 



Coopers were fairly well employed at barrel makiDg during the 

 spring and early summer and, subsequently, in connection with curing 

 and kippering operations at home and at Yarmouth. 



Only one motor boat was built in the Scottish section of the district, 

 but boat-builders were kept busy installing motor engines into sail boats 

 and attending to general repair work. 



Two boats prosecuted the summer herring fishing on the Irish coast, 

 and 42 crews participated in the autumn herring fishing at Yarmouth. 

 At both fishings the crews were fortunate in doing well, the average 

 earnings per boat at Ireland being £1325, and at Yarmouth for steam 

 drifters £1963 and for motor boats £990. The highest earnings at the 

 latter place were for a steam drifter £2700 and for a motor boat £1460. 



Some crews suffered considerable loss in gear, while others were much 

 more fortunatejn this respect. It was estimated that the total loss and 

 damage over the fleet would amount to £3000. 



As stated in the introductory paragraph of this report, the district 

 fishermen had no reason to complain of their earnings during the year. 

 In normal times these would have been considered exceptionally good, 

 but the present high cost of gear and other heavy working expenses con- 

 nected with the running of steam drifters and motor boats reduced the 

 net profits very considerably. However, taken all over, the year's results 

 turned out much better than might have been expected. 



The Government Guarantee Scheme served the purpose for which it 

 was intended. Fishermen were practically assured of getting value for 

 the herrings they landed, and curers were also assured of getting their 

 cure taken off their hands without suffering any loss. But for the exist- 

 ence of the scheme it is certain that fishermen would have been 

 obliged to accept smaller prices whenever the supply- of herrings ex- 

 ceeded the demand for freshing and kippering, and it is doubtful 

 whether curers would have risked curing any great quantity even at a 

 much reduced figure. Kipperers and freshers, however, although they 

 frequently paid high prices for their herrings, did not appear to be at 

 all satisfied with the scheme, because, while practically compelled to pay 

 at least the minimum price, they had no guarantee as to what they 

 might receive in return. 



The position of the herring fishing industry is meantime very un- 

 satisfactory, and it is difficult to see a way out. 



Some curers are of opinion that it might be possible to arrange some 

 system of barter with the Continent, while others are hoping that the 

 trade may adjust itself so as to allow of at least a certain amount of 

 business being done. It is also hoped that, by next season, some im- 

 provement may be brought about in the rate of exchange, which would go 

 a long way in solving the difficulties. 



Wm. Nisbet, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Berwick, \Uh January 1921. 



