96 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



herrings, and these they were unable to dispose of otherwise than to the 

 Government at the fixed rate of 62s. 6d.' per barrel. Prior to the 21st 

 July curers purchased herrings for curing at prices varying from 45s. to 

 55s. per cran, but in view of the continued light fishing, and the impos- 

 sibility of finding a market except through the Government, they 

 resolved to adopt a rationing scheme by which each curer obtained a 

 share of the landings, according to the number of crews employed, at 

 47s. per cran. This scheme continued in operation, with occasional 

 variations, for the remainder of the season. 



The total number of barrels cured amounted to 102,448 gutted and 

 1453 uDgutted. Of the gutted herrings 83, 104 J barrels were handed 

 over to the Board. 987 barrels were officially branded outside the 

 Scheme. The proportion of the catch cured was about 58 per cent. ; 

 25 per cent, was kippered and tinned ; and 17 per cent, was sent to 

 market in a fresh state. The direct exports of the season's cure up to 

 the end of the year amounted to about 41,000 barrels, Libau and Danzig 

 being the principal receiving ports. About 4000 barrels were railed to 

 other districts for export, chiefly to America, and about 2000 barrels 

 were sold for home consumption. 



No difficulty was experienced in carrying out the provisions of the 

 Government Guarantee Scheme, due in a large measure to the tact dis- 

 played by the gentlemen appointed to the Local Committee to represent 

 the interests of the fishermen and the buyers. Only on a few occasions 

 during the opening days of the season, when the full complement of 

 workers was not forward, was it found necessary to reduce the price 

 below 45s. per cran, and in no case had the Committee to undertake the 

 rationing out to curers of herrings landed. 



A number of crews were employed at great-line fishing on the west 

 coast during the first 4 months of the year. Their operations were 

 attended by fair results. A few crews prosecuted this fishing from 

 Fraserburgh, but owing to the irregular supply of bait the venture was 

 not attended by any great measure of success. It is likely, however, 

 that with the uncertainty connected with herring fishing this branch 

 of the industry may be further developed in the future. 



There was a considerable increase in the number of crews employed 

 at small-line fishing, which is now almost entirely prosecuted by motor 

 boats. The catch was greater than that of last year, but the value was 

 less, prices during the summer months being comparatively low. 

 Haddocks were very scarce during the last quarter of the year, and 

 during that period and also during the first quarter the fishing was 

 frequently interrupted by stormy weather. The cost of bait was very 

 high. 



The following table shows the average price per cwt. paid for (1) 

 herrings, and (2) for other fish in this district during the years from 1914 

 to 1920 :— 



Year. 



1914 

 1915 

 1916 

 1917 

 1918 

 1919 

 1920 



Herrings. 



Other White Fish. 



s. d. 



s. d. 



5 9 



10 1 



16 2 



18 10 



12 3 



22 10 



12 5 



29 1 



22 0 



50 7 



8 7 



28 9 



14 6 



18 5 



Crab and lobster fishing received more attention at the outlying 

 creeks, and the catch shows an increase on that of 1919. 



