of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



83 



engines, so that supplies of small-line fish are fairly regular. At 

 Pittenweem, the leading port, there is a daily market, where fish 

 merchants from inland towns attend with motor lorries and purchase 

 their daily supplies. Athough prices vary considerably, this is an 

 outlet for fish which may be relied on, and which may perhaps 

 improve, and with fair prices the prospects for this district are hopeful. 



Wm. S. Mowat, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Anstruther, 21st February 1921. 



Montrose District. 



There were several outstanding and, in some instances, disturbing 

 features in connection with the fishing industry of this district during 

 the year that has just closed. The results, taken as a whole, and so far 

 as quantity of fish is concerned, were fairly satisfactory, but with the 

 lower prices obtaining for all kinds of fish, and the high expenses in- 

 curred for every item necessary for the carrying on of the work, the 

 monetary results for boat owners and fishermen were very moderate. 

 The high cost of production, i.e., for gear, oils, bait and baiting, has had 

 a very depressing effect upon the herring and small-line fishing fleets, 

 and a number of fishermen have gone in wholly for seine net fishing, 

 or have obtained employment on shore, where, up to the present, work 

 has been more regular and wages better. Difficulty was also experienced 

 in obtaining labour for baiting lines, owing to the reluctance of female 

 members of the fishermen's families to undertake what is considered 

 dirty, laborious, and often unremunerative work. There were also 

 occasional shortages in the supply of mussels for bait, and the quality 

 of those obtained was often inferior. Numbers of fishermen were thus 

 led into prosecuting seine net fishing, which, although carried on with a 

 fair amount of success, and with less labour and expense, especially, on 

 shore, does not give such regular employment as does line fishing. Stormy 

 weather, of which there were lengthy periods, restricted the operations 

 of the various fleets, especially the line boats, whose total catch shows a 

 large reduction, but trawl vessels with their greater sea going power were 

 not so much affected. Although the catch of trawl fish shows a hand- 

 some increase, it is counterbalanced by the decrease in the landings by 

 other methods of capture. 



The total catch for the year shows a decrease of 538 cwts. in quantity 

 and £41,423 in value compared with 1919. 



The means of capture show considerable changes by an increase of 

 18 trawlers, a decrease of 2 steam drifters, 4 motor boats, and 33 sail 

 boats, an increase in the total tonnage of 713 tons, and an increase in 

 the total value of boats and gear of £252,301, due wholly to the trawlers. 

 Seven motor boats were sold out of the district, 3 others had their 

 engines removed, and 1 was not used as a fishing boat. On the other 

 hand 1 sail boat had an engine installed, and 6 motor boats were built 

 in or bought into the district, while 6 boats had their old engines re- 

 placed by new engines of the same or a greater h.p. AH the engines 

 fitted were of the " Kelvin " type. 



The steam drifters and large motor boats belonging to the district 

 took part in the great summer herring fishing at Peterhead. The 

 steamers grossed up to £990 and the motor boats up to £830, but 



