of the Fishery Board for Scotland 



91 



its history, and but for the assistance rendered by the Government 

 during the year under review, in the form of the Herring Guarantee 

 Scheme, would have been placed in a position from which it would 

 probably have taken years to recover. 



Unfortunately the relief afforded promises to have only temporary 

 results, as, by the close of the year, the general position had become 

 more acute. Large stocks of cured herrings remained on hand, for 

 which there was little or no outlet, and unless a marked improvement 

 takes place in the exchange on the Continent, to which the bulk of the 

 Scottish cure is exported, or some way is found out of the present 

 impasse, the position of the industry in 1921 will again be a critical one. 



The demand in the Continental markets would very probably be 

 improved, and the volume of trade greatly increased, were it found 

 possible to offer the cure at values approaching those ruling in pre-war 

 years, but, owing to the abnormal increase in the expenses necessary to 

 the conduct of the industry, both on land and sea, no great reduction 

 in prices can be effected unless an appreciable fall in the cost of 

 production takes place. 



The total quantity of fish (excluding shell fish) landed within the 

 limits of this district during the year amounted to 393,641 cwts. valued 

 at £322,867. These figures show a decrease in quantity of 135,514 cwts., 

 but an increase in value of £59,676 when compared with the returns for 

 the previous year, the differences being entirely attributable to a falling 

 off in the landings of, and the higher values ruling for, herrings. 



In the means of capture returns the most important change was the 

 comparatively large increase in the number of steam trawlers and second 

 class motor boats, 7 of the former and 18 of the latter having been 

 added to the register. The addition to the trawling fleet was a direct 

 result of the uncertainty regarding the herring fishing, and the heavy 

 expenses entailed in the provision and upkeep of gear necessary to its 

 prosecution. Fearing there would be little demand for herrings, a 

 number of fishermen decided to adopt trawling in the hope that more 

 remunerative results would thereby be obtained. The majority of the 

 vessels, a few of which had previously been employed as drifters, were 

 of the smaller class, suitable only for North Sea fishing. 



The increase in the case of small motor boats will probably continue 

 as this type of vessel has become very popular in the district. On the 

 other hand the large motor drifters do not find favour with local fisher- 

 men, and a number were exposed for sale during the year, but failed to 

 find purchasers. 



When the herring fishing season opened on 25th June 110 steam 

 and 70 motor drifters had gathered at the port, but these numbers 

 were soon increased, and the regular fleet at work throughout the season 

 consisted of 282 vessels, compared with 200 in 1919. The results during 

 the opening week were very encouraging, and gave promise of a fairly 

 successful season. On Saturday, 26th June, some heavy catches were 

 secured on the grounds from 35 to 60 miles east by south from Peter- 

 head, but this success was not maintained, and the landings from the 

 same grounds during the following week were light and irregular. 

 Thereafter the fleet spread over a wide area. A large number of vessels 

 confined their operations for a time to the inshore waters, while others 

 tried the grounds from 20 to 60 miles north-east to south-east, but 

 practically all met with the same disappointing results. 



Only during the week ended 17th July did the quantity landed 

 (21,986 crans) come anything near the requirements of the trade, and 

 of this quantity about 8000 crans were landed on one day. An unusual 

 feature in connection with the fishing was that herrings were seldom 



