114 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



21st August, but with spent fish predominating in the catches, no 

 attempt was made to prolong the season. The total catch amounted to 

 26,152 crans valued at £61,576, giving an average price of 47s. Id. per 

 cran. Fishermen had an unremunerative season, a number of crews 

 failing to clear expenses. Steam drifters grossed from £500 to £1100, 

 motor boats from £400 to £1050 and sail boats from £280 to £605. 



The working of the Guarantee Scheme appeared to give general 

 satisfaction. The regulations drawn up by the Local Committee were 

 strictly adhered to by both fishermen. and curers, with the result that 

 there was an entire absence of friction. Catches were almost invariably 

 landed early in the day, and in good condition, so that curers had no 

 difficulty in producing a satisfactory article. The total cure amounted 

 to 34,975 barrels, of which 33,426 barrels were accepted under the 

 Guarantee Scheme, the remainder being chiefly Matjes and light cured 

 La. Fulls and Fulls, which were shipped to America. Of the total 

 quantity accepted, 30.934 barrels were Grade 1., 1049 were Grade 2, and 

 1443 were Grade 3. As there was little disposition on the part of the 

 curers to evade the spirit of the scheme, the inspecting and taking over 

 of stocks proceeded smoothly throughout the season. At the close of 

 the year there were still on hand in the district 21,986 barrels of cured 

 herrings belonging to the Government. 



The results of the line fisheries compare unfavourably with those of 

 the preceding year, there being a falling-off to the extent of 2401 cwts. 

 in the quantity and £6136 in the value of line-caught fish. Few of the 

 crofter fishermen prosecuted line fishing except when requiring supplies 

 for family use, while stormy weather greatly hindered the operations of 

 the regular fishermen. Practically all the line fish were consumed with- 

 in the district, as also were occasional small landings from wind-bound 

 trawlers. To meet the local demand, considerable quantities of smoked 

 and cured dried fish were imported from Aberdeen, Leith and Lerwick. 



Great success attended the prosecution of the lobster fisheries, 

 especially during the summer and autumn months. All the grounds 

 proved prolific, and prices were generally good. During the year 

 115,210 lobsters were landed and realised the sum of £9613, an increase 

 of 30 per cent, in the number and 27 per cent, in the value as compared 

 with the figures for the year 1919. The total value of shell-fish amounted 

 to £10,090, as against £7904 in the preceding year. 



During the year one large motor boat was transferred to another 

 registry, and one small motor boat was lost. A motor coasting vessel 

 was registered as a fishing boat ; 3 motor boats of the second class were 

 purchased from other districts ; and motor engines were installed into 

 12 small sail boats belonging to the district. The motor fleet now 

 numbers 55, as against 41 in the year 1919. The number of first class 

 sailing boats in the district was still further reduced, 3 of these being 

 cancelled, having become unseaworthy. 



Orders for small-line fishing boats provided steady employment for 

 boat-builders throughout the year, 35 boats of from 10 ft. to 22 ft. of keel 

 being constructed within the district. Nineteen of these were built to 

 the order of fishermen belonging to other districts, chiefly Stornoway. 



An unfortunate accident, involving the loss of two lives, falls to be 

 recorded. During a gale in November two Hoy fishermen observed 

 that their motor boat, which was anchored off the shore, was in^ danger 

 of being swamped by the heavy seas. They proceeded on board with 

 the intention of shifting it to a safer anchorage, but while they were thus 

 engaged the boat foundered, and both men were drowned before assist- 

 ance could be rendered. 



In addition to the above-mentioned motor boat, 2 small sail boats 



