of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



287 



A list ruther District 



The year just closed can fairly be described as a satisfactory one for the General 

 fisheries of Anstruther district. The returns of the total catch and value Remarks - 

 of fish landed— the third highest on record — have been exceeded only by 

 those of the abnormally successful years of 1900 and 1902. Compared 

 with that of the preceding year, the value shows an increase of over 

 .£18,000. 



The number of first-class sailing boats is gradually falling off owing to Means of 

 the more general adoption of the steam drifter. A slight increase in the Ca P ture - 

 number of smaller-sized boats is due to an improvement in small-line Sailing Boai 

 fishing. 



The success of the local steam drifters during the past two years has Steam 

 induced a number of the district fishermen to give orders for steam-pro- Vessels - 

 pelled vessels, and, during the latter half of the year, there was quite a 

 boom in steam-drifter building. In addition to four vessels added to the 

 fleet, at the close of the year about twenty vessels were on order for 

 district crews, and several crews were unable to get their orders placed on 

 account of the builders' being unable to guarantee delivery before the 

 autumn of the present year. 



An interesting experiment was made at Anstruther during the past Auxiliary 

 year. The experiment consisted of fitting an ordinary sailing boat with Pro P ulslon - 

 a turbine engine as a means of propulsion. The engine is, however, 

 meant to be more supplementary than auxiliary, the aim being to 

 make a combination of the two powers — sail and steam — when there are 

 light winds, while, wheu there is plenty of wind, the sailing qualities of 

 the boat would be fully utilised. Several satisfactory trials were made. 

 In calm weather a speed of 6| knots was attained. With a light breeze, 

 which drove the boat with sails alone at 5 knots, a speed of between 9 

 and 10 knots was attained by means of both engine and sails. The 

 engine is placed low in the boat, and it takes up comparatively little 

 space. It runs very smoothly, and with no vibration or noise. It is 

 said to be very simple, and fishermen would soon learn to take charge of 

 it. As it was late in the season before the installation was completed 

 the boat was not senl to the fishing. 



The winter herrine fishing continues to be the most important fishing Winter 

 in the district. It yielded close on 60 per cent, of the total catch and ^{J-™ g 

 value of white fish landed in the district during the year. About the 

 usual number of local crews were engaged, and, among the strangers who 

 took part in the fishing, all the ports from Nairn to Eyemouth were 

 represented. During the first part of the season herrings were scarce, 

 and, although later on the catches improved, the season closed with a 

 shortage of close on 5000 crans compared with the corresponding season 

 of last year. Owing, however, to a better demand for herrings, and, in 

 consequence higher prices, the value of the catch shows an increase of 

 nearly £10,000. A portion of the catch was again cured gutted and 

 exported to the Continental markets. 



The catch for this season was the best recorded for the past Summer 

 thirty years. About the end of July dense shoals of herrings were jj^j^f 

 located east and north-east of the May Island, and the district crews 1&img * 

 who usually fish from Aberdeen found it more convenient to land their 

 catches at Anstruther. The fishing continued successful during August 

 and the first week of September. Unfortunately, owing to calm weather, 

 a large portion of the catch was landed in bad condition, and prices 

 ruled low. The catch for the season amounted to 14,870 crans, com- 

 pared with 4861 crans for the corresponding season of 1905. Most of 



