of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



227 



because they were admitted free of duty provided they were carried 

 in Russian ships. This concession was taken advantage of by im- 

 porters, who afterwards brought the herrings into the interior of 

 Russia in competition with the herrings imported by way of the 

 Baltic ports, on which 13s. per barrel of duty had to be paid. Re- 

 presentations were made to the Government, with the result that the duty 

 is now imposed at Archangel, and not a single barrel was shipped that 

 way during 1906. A new departure was made in another direction, a cargo 

 of herrings having been sent from Peterhead to Odessa in the Black Sea, 

 the first for many years. Otherwise the exportation has been to the 

 usual ports in Germany and Russia, the latter taking an increasing 

 quantity year after year. The greater share of the trade in Russia is in 

 the hands of Jewish firms, who have within the last few years developed 

 the trade immensely, pushing it all over the Empire. 



The other branches of the industry are of only slightly less importance Fish other 

 than the herring fishery with regard to value, but of much greater import- o^trawl^and' 

 ance in respect of providing a food supply for the home markets. Almost line-caught 

 the whole produce of this branch of the fishery is consumed at home, while Fish, 

 practically the entire catch of herrings is sent abroad. There is a con- 

 siderable increase in the quantity of white fish landed when compared 

 with the preceding year, and also an increase in value. This is due in some 

 measure to the improvement in the small-line fishing which set in 

 towards the close of the year, particularly on the north-east coast. Of 

 the fish landed, haddocks and cod amounted to about two-thirds of the 

 whole. In connection with trawling attention may be directed to the 

 large quantity of catfish, monks, and hake landed by trawlers during the 

 last few years. During 1906 no less than 61,000 cwts. of these 

 fish were landed, almost entirely by trawlers. Having in view the facts 

 that these fish were very rarely caught by lines, and their destructive 

 powers amongst other fish, such as herrings and haddocks, it can be seen 

 what an immense benefit it is to the general prosperity of the fisheries 

 to have such large quantities of these destructive fish captured annually 

 which were formerly allowed to roam the sea until they died of old age. 



The value of shell-fish amounted to =£72,000 for the year, or just about Shell Fisheries, 

 the average of the past few years. There is no change in the kinds of 

 shell-fish or in the localities from which they are taken. Together the 

 value of all kinds of fish landed during the past year amounts, for the 

 first time in the history of the Scottish fisheries, to over three million 

 pounds, unmistakeable proof of the progress and prosperity of the 

 industry. 



Alex. Millikin. 



9 



