236 



Appendices to Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



this increase was counterbalanced by the withdrawal of five of the 

 smaller class to engage in net and line fishing, and the total number of 

 vessels remains the same as in last year. 



In connection with this industry two net factories, employing 80 women, 

 and an ice factory, were built and equipped with the latest machinery 

 during the year. These establishments are owned and managed by local 

 trawl owners. 



The fishing grounds resorted to by the largest and best vessels, and 

 from which the better class of fish is obtained, range from 50 to 60 

 miles in a N.E. direction from the May Island, whereas the smaller class 

 of vessels work more inshore, large quantities of small haddocks being 

 caught by them. 



I subjoin a comparative statement showing the quantity and value of 

 fish landed by trawl and line, and the number of trawl vessels employed, 

 during the years 1902 to 1906. 



Year. 



Trawl 

 Vessels 

 employed. 



Trawl. 



Line. 



Cwts. 



£ ' 



Cwts. 



£ 



1902 

 1903 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 



43 

 48 



53 



£ 



55 



227,861 

 241,861 

 318,496 

 295,960 

 375,796 



121,138 

 134,569 

 153,865 

 157,908 

 167,032 



24,105 

 34,491 

 33,999 

 31,931 

 30,069 



18,637 

 20,470 

 18,471 

 19,196 

 20,228 



Boatbuilding. The boatbuilding trade was exceptionally dull during the first six 

 months of the year, but since the close of the herring season contracts 

 have been entered into, and are now being executed, for the buiLling of 

 several steam drifters for local fishermen. In connection with this 

 industry, a number of boats built in other districts pet their engines and 

 boilers constructed and fitted into them here by local engineers, one firm 

 at present having on hand no fewer than eight boats to fit out in this 

 way. 



English and There were 54 district boats employed at the English herring fishing, 



Irish Herring an( ] 27 at the Irish herring fishing. The average earnings of those 

 Fishings 



engaged at the former were £350 and at the latter £80 



The number of quarter-cran baskets branded during the year was 12,901. 

 A considerable number of these baskets are now sent to fishing stations 

 on the English coast during the autumn fishing, where they are used by 

 English as well as Scottish fishermen. 

 Casualties. The loss of fishing material by sail boats, amounting in all to £930, 

 was principally due to the bad weather at the English herring fishing, 

 one boat having lost her entire drift of nets, while most of the other 

 boats suffered to a greater or less extent. The total loss sustained by 

 trawl vessels amounted to £5510. 



Fortunately no lives were lost at any of the fishings during the year. 



James Stewart, 



Fishery Officer. 



Leith, 17 th January 1907. 



