98 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



extent of £22,221. This was due to a falling off in small-line fishing, 

 and to the lower prices prevailing for white fish. Herrings show a con- 

 siderable increase in quantity and value. The value of shell-fish also 

 shows a slight increase. 



The district fleet was augmented by 4 steam drifters, 20 motor boats 

 and 7 third class sailing boats during the year, but at the same time 

 suffered decreases of 3 steam drifters, 15 motor boats and 34 sailing 

 boats, so that there was a net decrease, as compared with 1919, of 21 

 vessels. This decrease was due chiefly to a number of crews disposing 

 of the motor boats they had been fishing with on the return of their 

 steam drifters from Admiralty service, and to the breaking up of 

 obsolete sailing craft. , 



The cod-net fishing was prosecuted chiefly by crews fishing from 

 Gardenstown. A start was made about the middle of January, and 

 fishing continued until the end of March. Only 14 motor boats were 

 engaged, as compared with 24 last year, and the catch and value show 

 considerable decreases. The average price per cwt. was 28s. lOd. 

 against 47s. 9d. in 1919. 



At Whitehills also anchored-net fishing was prosecuted for the same 

 period, but the principal kinds landed were lemon soles and plaice. The 

 fishing there was more successful, and better results were obtained than 

 in the previous year. 



Small-line fishing is the most important fishery carried on in the 

 district. The boats engaged are almost all equipped with motor engines, 

 only a few smaller sized sailing boats operating during the summer 

 months. The results were not so good as last year. The quantity of 

 fish landed was less, and the average price per cwt. dropped from 

 34s. 3d. to 32s. 5d. Fewer boats were employed than in 1919, as 

 fishermen who prosecuted line fishing during the last few years have 

 now returned to their pre-war occupation of herring fishing in steam 

 and motor drifters. 



During January and February the bulk of the local steam drifters 

 were engaged in herring fishing on the North and West Coasts with 

 fairly good results. A number of shots were landed at Macduff, the 

 total being 741 crans valued at £1461. The herrings were all kippered 

 and sent to the Glasgow, London aud Midland markets. 



The summer herring fishing was fairly successful. Operations com- 

 menced on June 24th and continued until the end of August. The 

 local steam drifters fished chiefly from the larger centres, but quite a 

 number made week-end landings at Macduff. About 20 motor boats, 

 including several of from 35 to 45 feet of keel, fished from Macduff, and 

 occasional shots were also landed at Portsoy and Whitehills. What 

 greatly helped towards the increased landings was the presence of 

 herrings in the Moray Firth during the latter part of the season, good 

 takes being got 2 to 4 miles off Macduff. 



The Government Guarantee Scheme, under which the fishing was 

 carried on, worked smoothly. Curing was begun on 26th June, when 

 the minimum price of 45s. per cran was given, but that price was 

 generally exceeded later in the season. The average price per cran for 

 the season, namely 51s., shows an increase of 19s. 3d. over the average 

 price of last year. 



The total catch for the season was 8466 crans as compared with 6723 

 crans in 1919. Of this total 1188 crans were kippered, 429 crans freshed 

 and 8787 barrels cured. Almost the whole cure was taken over under 

 the Government Guarantee Scheme. The quality of the herrings was 

 good during the whole season. The firms engaged in kippering had a 

 fairly good season, but curers would barely clear expenses. 



