of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



95 



cases, most oi the crews finished up in debt. On several occasions 

 catches of herrings, caught on the west coast andon the north coast of 

 Sutherlandshire, were landed at this station, the total quantity landed 

 during the first quarter of the year being 7248 crans. These herrings 

 were bought for kippering at fair prices. Local kipperers during this 

 season also obtained supplies from west coast stations by rail. 



Owing to the continued closure of the Russian markets, and to the 

 difficulty .of trading with other cured herring consuming countries, the 

 prospects for the summer herring fishing were very gloomy indeed. 

 With the high cost of fishing material and the heavy working expenses, 

 fishermen refused to fish unless they were guaranteed a minimum price 

 for their catches. Curers were in an equally difficult position. There 

 was little prospect of a market for their produce, and they were not in a 

 position to pay the prices required by the fishermen. Ultimately a 

 Government Guarantee Scheme was arranged, under which the curer 

 was guaranteed a flat rate of 62s. 6d. per barrel of cured herrings up to 

 a total of 570,000 barrels, provided 45s. per cran was paid for all herrings 

 landed fresh between 25th June and 21st August. Prior to the com- 

 mencement of the season preparations were made for dealing with a 

 large catch. Following on the experience of the previous year, when it 

 was difficult to get supplies of salt and stock forward either by rail or 

 sea, curers made arrangements to have the season's full supply of salt 

 delivered early, and large stocks of barrels were accumulated. A large 

 number of female fish-workers, some of them experienced, many of them 

 otherwise, were employed, and the only difficulty that seemed to present 

 itself was the doubt of the workers being able to deal with the antici- 

 pated heavy landings. Fishermen were equally sanguine as to the 

 success of the season. 



The season opened on the 26th of June, and for the first half of the 

 period it looked as if the anticipations of all concerned were to be 

 realised, the total catch up to 24th July being 100,819 crans. Un- 

 fortunately the fishing then fell off, and for the remainder of the season 

 only 35,000 crans were added to the catch. During the early part of the 

 season the principal fishing grounds were from 30 to 70 miles N.N.E. 

 and E.N.E., but later all the available fishing grounds within a radius of 

 80 miles off Kinnaird Head were tried, generally with disheartening 

 results. A few catches were landed from the fishing grounds off St. Abbs' 

 Head, and at least one came from off the north coast of Sutherland- 

 shire. It is difficult to account for the failure of the fishing during the 

 latter part of the season. The usual fishing grounds had been only 

 partially fished during the previous six years ; the weather was not un- 

 favourable ; the fleet employed was, in catching power, the largest ever 

 employed at this station; nets were tried at various depths, yet the 

 landings for the four weeks from 24th July to 21st August were only 

 equal to the quantity that could have been dealt with by the shore 

 workers in two days. 



The quality of the herrings landed during the season was only fair. 

 As most of the catch was obtained during the early part of the season, 

 matfulls and matties predominated, and the proportion of fulls was 

 much les3 than usual. The proportion of spents was also less. Fisher- 

 men experienced an unremunerative season, due to the short catch, and 

 also in a great measure to the high cost of coals and other stores and 

 fishing material. It is doubtful if the average earnings of fishermen for 

 their labour equalled £4 per week. The average gross earnings of steam 

 drifters were about £1.100, of motor boats about £700 and of sail boats 

 about £400. Curer3 also fared badly. With the light fishing, as they 

 were anxious to fill their barrels, they paid excessive prices for the 



