of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



87 



especially the vessels which devoted their attention entirely to great-line 

 fishing. The other fishings prosecuted were not attended with any out- 

 standing success, and herring fishing in particular was a comparative 

 failure. 



The weather conditions during the year were at times very adverse 

 to successful fishing operations, especially during the winter and spring, 

 when the majority of the long-voyage trawlers made on an average only 

 three landings for the first two months of the year; and throughout the 

 remainder of the year voyages were often prolonged on account of rough 

 weather, which rendered operations unremunerative. 



The coal strike which took place at the end of October dislocated 

 the industry to a certain extent, and a number of boats were laid up 

 temporarily by certain companies so that the vessels which were kept 

 operating could get full bunkers of coal instead of the half-bunker's 

 ration allowed. 



In connection with the means of capture there is a decrease of some 

 20 boats from 1919, chiefly of third-class sail boats, while, on the 

 other hand, trawlers show an increase of 11 vessels. With the exception 

 of a decrease in the area of netting, caused by a decrease in the number 

 of drifters following the herring fishing, fishing gear shows little variation. 

 During the latter part of the year the prices of trawlers showed a 

 downward tendency, falling, in all, about 25 per cent, as compared 

 with the prices current during 1918 and 1919. A number of trawlers sold 

 to English ports during the war have been purchased back to this port 

 for the inshore fishing at greatly reduced prices. The value of motor 

 boats, especially those of 30 to 40 feet overall employed at small-line 

 fishing, is also on the down grade ; in fact, there appears to be no 

 demand for this style of craft at any price. Several have been and are 

 still being offered for sale, but no purchasers are forthcoming. All the 

 shore owners are anxious to clear out, but the general opinion is that 

 they have held the vessels too long. 



As regards trawling, which is the premier branch of the industry 

 carried on from this port, the fleet now operating is the greatest that has 

 ever been employed, totalling 260 vessels. Trawl fish accounted for 82 

 per cent, of the gross value of fish landed, but the operations of trawlers 

 did not turn out a financial success. The outstanding feature in con- 

 nection with trawling was the great number of non-paying voyages 

 made by the largest-sized vessels ; so great were the losses about the 

 end of April and during the month of May that the majority of the 

 vessels of this type were laid up at the end of May for three months. 

 The high cost of fishing material, coal, ice, etc. greatly handicapped 

 operations. It is computed that unless vessels of the largest size earn 

 at least £1000 per month there is a debit balance, and very few vessels 

 have averaged anything approaching that figure for the year's work. 

 The best fished vessel made £20,500, but this was an exceptional case, 

 and a fourth of them finished up in debt. The daily working expenses 

 of large-sized trawlers run from £35 to £40, and for inshore trawlers from 

 £15 to £25, according to size. Short-voyage trawlers operating on the 

 nearer grounds were fairly fortunate, and in most cases made fairly good 

 earnings, but the low values obtained at times for "extra small" 

 haddocks and " small " whitings when disposed of for manure materially 

 lowered their earnings. 



The results of the Faroe fishing were very discouraging, and fish was 

 found scarce on that area throughout the year. In many instances 

 trawlers had to complete their voyages in the North Sea, which 

 repeatedly meant a debit settling. The bulk of the catch from Faroe 

 usually consists of codlings, upon which the filleting trade depend for 



