of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



93 



The duties of the local committee appointed to assist in carrying out 

 the provisions of the Government Guarantee Scheme were, except during 

 a short period in the early part of the season, of a light nature. Regu- 

 lations fixing the hours of sale and requiring that all herrings landed be 

 sold by auction were drawn up. Copies of these were exhibited for the 

 information of the trade, and the regulations were carried out without 

 dispute, while the light catch obviated any difficulty with regard to 

 obtaining the guaranteed prices. The committee were also able to 

 assist in relieving the position at Fraserburgh, where, on 15th July, 

 owing to heavy landings and other causes, great difficulty was being 

 experienced in disposing of the catch at the minimum price. On this 

 information being transmitted by the officer in charge of Fraserburgh it 

 was found possible, after consultation with the local curers, to ease the 

 congestion at that port by bringing fully 1200 crans to Peterhead. 



As already stated a considerable proportion of the cure was left on 

 hand at the close of the year, the shipments of 1920 summer cure 

 amounting to only 41,000 barrels, nearly all of which went to Baltic 

 ports. 



Great- line fishing was carried on during the spring and early summer 

 by a number of steam liners, the principal grounds frequented being 

 those off the East Coast and Shetland. In the majority of cases fair 

 results were obtained, the range of earnings being from £1000 to £2400 

 for periods of from 8 to 12 weeks. These vessels, however, almost 

 invariably landed at Aberdeen. 



TJie local fleet of steam trawlers also made Aberdeen their head- 

 quarters, and the quantity of trawled fish landed in the district by these 

 vessels was negligible. 



Motor trawling received more attention than usual, the boats em- 

 ployed being from 20 to 36 feet keel. Operations by these small craft 

 could only be carried on under the most favourable weather conditions, 

 and the best results were therefore obtained during the summer and 

 autumn months, when about 18 crews were at work. Catches consisted 

 almost exclusively of medium and small plaice, the former predominat- 

 ing, and earnings were very remunerative, individual crews occasionally 

 earning from £20 to £30 for a single night's fishing. 



Results at line-fishing fluctuated considerably. During the opening 

 months of the year the fishing was vigorously prosecuted by fully 100 

 boats, and good catches were obtained from 1 to 3 miles off. Subse- 

 quent operations, however, proved disappointing, especially towards the 

 close of the year, when few fish were found on the inshore grounds, and 

 boats were kept in harbour for extended periods by stormy weather. 

 Codlings bulked largely in the landings, while the proportion of haddocks 

 was unusually small. • 



One hundred and fifteen steam and five motor drifters took part in 

 the East Anglian herring fishing with fairly successful results, the average 

 gross earnings of the former being fully £1400 and of the latter £830. 

 Owing to the exceptionally fine weather experienced throughout the 

 season the loss of fishing gear was comparatively light, but on the other 

 hand general working expenses were heavy, the average per vessel 

 for the season being fully £500. Sixty-seven pickling firms also took 

 part in curing operations, this being the largest number that has ever 

 gone from the district. 



Coopers were well employed until November, when the question of 

 wages came up for reconsideration. No agreement with curers was then 

 reached, but at a conference held later, an offer of the rates obtaining 

 prior to the advance in July was accepted. As a considerable number 

 of empty barrels remained on hand, and curers were reluctant to manu- 



