of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



239 



Several of the older class of boats were broken up or otherwise disposed Means of 

 of during the year. A steam fishing vessel, which had been engaged as a C{l P turc - 

 carrier steamer for the past few years, was fitted out by a Buckie crew 

 and employed in the various herring fishings from the month of July. 

 As this vessel is registered at Montrose, it has been included in the 

 returns of this district. 



The sprat and herring fishing in the Tay was a complete failure. Sprat and Her- 

 Not withstanding that the usual fleet of boats made repeated trials, it was 

 only on rare occasions that any individual shot amounted to more than a 

 cran, takes generally ranging from a basket downwards. 



It is difficult to account lor this great scarcity, but, whatever the cause 

 may be, it is quite evident that the fish did not frequent the waters of 

 the Tay in the same abundance as in former years. 



Both in respect of quantity and value, the results of the summer herring Summer Her- 

 fishing showed an improvement on those of the two preceding years. nng Flslu "S- 



A few boats commenced operations in June, but the fishing proper did 

 not begin till well on in July and continued to the first week in 

 September. 



In addition to the regular fleet of sailing craft, several steam drifters 

 landed thdr takes in this district. 



The quality fell far short of what could have been desired, the bulk Quality, 

 of the catch being composed of herrings of a very soft nature, which 

 rendered their handling a difficult and delicate operation. 



Prices were well maintained throughout the season, an average of Prices. 

 20s. 9d. per cran having been paid to the fishermen, as compared with 

 14s. 6d. in 1905, and 10s. 5d. in 1904. 



With a brisk demand for the cured article prevailing, prices were 

 inclined to advance with the season, but even under these favourable 

 conditions the profits of the curers were by no means large, owing to 

 the comparatively small proportion of herrings suitable for the more 

 valuable brands. 



Haddocks were more plentiful than they have been for a number of Line Fishing, 

 years, but they were, for the most part, of a small to medium size, large 

 haddocks being extremely scarce. Codlings, on the other hand, were not 

 nearly so plentiful. 



It is satisfactory, however, to note that, in the aggregate, the results of 

 the previous year's line fishing were fully maintained during the year 

 which has just closed. 



Trawling was carried on by the same fleet of vessels as was employed Trawling, 

 in 1905. 



The total number of arrivals was 1561, with an average catch per 

 arrival of 54| cwts. and an average value of nearly ,£26, as against 1483 

 arrivals, 59 cwts. and £29 respectively, in the preceding year. 



The output of mussels from the beds situated in the Tay was Shell-fish 

 considerably greater than in the previous year, but this increase 

 was almost counterbalanced by the falling-off in the quantity taken from 

 the South Esk. 



Lobster and crab fishing was much more successfully prosecuted, crabs 

 especially showing a marked increase in the number captured. 



Fifteen local boats prosecuted the great-line fishing on the north-east English 

 coast of England during the spring of the year, but met with indifferent Fishings, 

 success, their average earnings working out at about £45 per boat. 



At the close of the summer fishing a fleet of 75 sailing boats from this 

 district prosecuted the herring fishing at Scarborough, and 21 of these 

 also took part in the fishing on the Norfolk coast later on in the year. 

 Their earnings ranged from £40 to £600, which gave an average of 

 £172 per boat, as compared with £141 the previous year. 



