of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



99 



Owing to the heavy working expenses and the cost of gear, results 

 to fishermen were not very satisfactory. A number of crews just cleared 

 their expenses, while the best fished would only have fair wages. The 

 smaller motor boats, fishing on the inshore grounds, were most successful. 

 It is interesting to note that only one sailing boat was fitted out for 

 herring fishing during the year in this district. 



About the middle of September 84 steam drifters and 12 motor boats 

 left to prosecute the herring fishing in English waters. The weather 

 was very favourable, and satisfactory results were obtained. Steam 

 drifters grossed from £880 to £1980, and motor boats from £600 to 

 £1100. 



During December a few steam drifters proceeded to the West Coast 

 for the loch fishing. Herrings were, however, scarce, and only a few crews 

 met with any success. 



Local boat builders were fairly busy during the year. Seventeen 

 motor boats of from 30 to 52 feet of keel were built, the bulk of these 

 being for Macduff fishermen for line fishing. Only 5 third class sailing 

 boats were built. 



During the early part of the year coopers were fully employed at 

 barrel-making. The number of barrels made shows a large increase. 



Fortunately no lives were lost in connection with the fisheries of the 

 district, but the damage to boats and gear was heavy. The losses include 

 one steam drifter which sunk while on Admiralty service, and another 

 which was sunk in collision in returning from the English fishing. Two 

 large motor boats were also lost during the year, one having sunk on 

 the fishing grounds during the summer herring fishing, while the other 

 was wrecked later in the year on the West Coast. The winter herring 

 fishing was responsible for the greater part of the damage to gear. 



At the present time the prospects of the herriog fishing industry 

 are not very bright, but curers are busy making barrels and preparing 

 for next season, and fishermen are trying to formulate a scheme to carry 

 on the herring fishing of 1921. It is almost certain that, without some 

 scheme, operations will be conducted on a very restricted scale. 



The harbour improvement scheme at Macduff is nearing completion, 

 and by next summer the new basin will be open. The increased 

 accommodation is greatly needed for the laying up of fishing vessels 

 between the various fishings. 



George Downie, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Macduff, 19^ January 1921. 



Buckie District. 



With the release of the last of the district fishermen from Admiralty 

 service and the reconditioning of the local fleet of steam drifters, it may 

 be said that for the first time since 1914 the means of capture were 

 brought up to the normal standard. 



Practically all the fishermen and fishing craft belonging to the 

 district were employed, during a period of the year at least, in their 

 former occupation. This being so, it will no doubt be of interest to 

 note the change that has taken place in the composition of the fishing 

 fleet during the years of the war. 



From the table given below classifying the different kinds of fishing 

 vessels belonging to the district in 1914 and in 1920 it will be observe ! 



