82 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



.Government Guarantee had expired there was no demand for such 

 catches in the district, and the steamers had to leave for Aberdeen 

 and Peterhead with their shots. 



Four local curers accepted the terni3 of the Government Guarantee 

 and carried on curing operations. The total quantity landed for the 

 season amounted to 2862 crans, of which 2837^ barrels were cured and 

 handed over to the Government, while 68 barrels were cured outside 

 the terms of the Guarantee, and the remainder was freshed or kippered. 

 Only on one occasion was it necessary to rouse herrings, and the fishing 

 fleet was never detained in harbour. With the exception of 24 barrels, 

 all the herrings cured during the operation of the Scheme were accepted 

 under the Guarantee, and of the total cure 2759^ barrels were branded 

 Grade 1, and 78 barrels Grade 2. With the exception of 50 crans roused 

 at 40s. per cran, prices ranged from 45s. to 58s. per cran up to the 21st 

 of August, but after that date they ranged from 20s. to 65s. per 

 cran. The greater proportion of post-Scheme herrings was freshed or 

 kippered, only 44 barrels being cured, for customers, by a local fish 

 merchant. 



The codling and plaice net fishing, carried on chiefly in St. Andrew's 

 Bay, was vigorously prosecuted throughout the early and latter months 

 of the year, but the weather was stormy and fish appeared to be scarce. 

 Although the catching power was considerably increased by the installa- 

 tion of motor engines into 7 small sail boats, and by the addition of 1 

 new motor boat to the fleet at St. Andrews, net caught plaice show a 

 decrease of 105 cwts. in quantity and £228 in value as compared with 

 the previous year. 



Small-line fishing wa3 regularly carried on at the various creeks of 

 the district by small sail and motor boats. Owing to the high cost of 

 oil fuel and the decline in the prices of fish, the net earnings of crews of 

 motor boats were not so satisfactory as they were during the previous 

 year. 



Crab and lobster fishing is becoming more popular with the fisher- 

 men situated near suitable grounds. During the past year the value 

 of shell fish landed amounted to £'8316, being an increase of £2118 as 

 compared with the previous year. 



Of the local fleet, 40 steam drifters and 45 motor boats participated 

 in the East Anglian autumn herring fishing, which proved a successful 

 season to most of the fishermen. The earnings of the steam drifters 

 ranged in the extreme from £804 to £3037, but the majority ranged 

 from £1272 to £2550, while the motor boats had earnings ranging from 

 £862 to £1500. The fishing on the English coast was carried on under 

 very favourable weather conditions, so that the loss of gear was less 

 than usually experienced. 



It i3 estimated that the loss on fishing gear during the past year 

 amounted to £1739. Crab and lobster fishermen suffered heavy losses 

 of creels by a gale at the end of October. 



Of the 4 motor boats lost during the year, -1 was burnt at sea, and 

 the other 3 were wrecked during fog. Happily these disasters were 

 not accompanied by loss of life, although a district fisherman was 

 unfortunately drowned in Yarmouth harbour. 



The prospects for the ensuing year are, as yet, somewhat uncertain 

 for the herring fishing communities. The Fifeshire fishermen, however, 

 depend largely on the great-line fishing, and it is highly probable that 

 many of the steam drifters and first class motor boats may continue at 

 great-line fishing in preference to starting a doubtful summer herring 

 fishing. 



Most of the small-line fishing boats have now been fitted with motor 



