94 



Ajype?ulices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



facture large stocks at the high prices current for staves and other 

 material, a number of coopers failed to find employment, the estimated 

 number idle at the close of the year being about 90. 



Boat-building was practically at a standstill, there being no demand 

 for any type of fishing craft, and builders were occupied chiefly with 

 repair work. 



Considerable loss of and damage to gear was sustained by district 

 crews in the Minch and off the North Coast during the winter fishing, but 

 the loss at other seasons was much below the average. 



Unfortunately the loss of life in connection with the fisheries was 

 greater than for many years. Three young men engaged in motor 

 trawling were drowned as a result of their boat striking a submerged 

 rock when on the way to the fishing grounds, while three other fatalities 

 occurred, in each case through the fisherman falling overboard. 



Classes for the teaching of navigation were held at Peterhead and 

 Boddam during the winter months. These were well attended by 

 fishermen, and the results of the examinations held were very gratifying 

 both to teachers and pupils. 



Robt. Spink, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Peterhead, January 1921. 



Fraserburgh District. 



The results of fishing operations in this district during the pa3t year 

 can hardly be described as satisfactory. Compared with those of the 

 preceding year, the returns of fish landed show a decrease of 297,887 

 cwts., although in the total value of the catch there is an increase of 

 £9458. The falling of! in the catch, and also the increase in value, are 

 chiefly referable to herrings, of which 309,969 cwts. less were landed than 

 during the preceding year. Owing to the higher prices paid, the value 

 of herrings exceeded that of 1919 by £17,084. In making this com- 

 parison it has, however, to be kept in mind that a much larger number 

 of crews were employed at herring fishing in this district during the year 

 under review than was the case in 1919. 



The number of fishing boats now owned in this district amounts to 

 529, 87 steam vessels, 193 motor boats and 249 sail boats, being an 

 increase of 3 steam drifters, 13 motor boats and 10 sail boats as com- 

 pared with the preceding year. In addition, 5 steam drifters belonging 

 to English ports were manned by district crews throughout the year. 

 Seven large motor boats were sold from the district, but 20 motor boats 

 of from 18 to 40 feet in length were added to the local fleet. Twenty 

 large motor boats were unemployed owing to the difficulty of getting 

 crews with fishing gear. Only 1 large sail boat now appears in the 

 district returns. This boat, although still on the Fraserburgh register, 

 is now owned by Shetland owners. The number of small sized sail 

 boats, used in connection with the inshore fisheries, was increased by 

 15. Of the year's landings 63 per cent, was landed by steam vessels, 

 33 per cent, by motor boats and 4 per cent, by sail boats. 



The principal branch of the fishing carried on in this district is 

 herring fishing, which contributed 90 per cent, of the landings and 89 

 per cent, of the value. A number of district crews were employed at 

 herring fishing on the west coast of Scotland and on the Irish coast 

 during the first three months of the year. The season did not generally 

 prove remunerative. Indeed, with the exception of a very few fortunate 



