242 



A-ppendices to Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



Comparative These figures show that 13 fewer voyages were made during 1906 than 

 Fishin° f TraW ^ n P rece( ^ n o y ear j that the average duration of the voyage was nearly 

 half a day longer, the average weight of catch increased by 4'8 cwts., and 

 the average value per voyage by £0'8. 



Looking closely at the result for the year, and taking into account the 

 fact that the fleet was greater by 14 vessels at the close of 1906 than at 

 the corresponding period in the previous year, it does not appear that 

 any real advance has been made ; but, on the other hand, it is generall}'- 

 believed that the weather was less favourable for fishing during 1906 

 than for several years previously, and that is in itself a most important 

 factor in the results. 



Principal Areas The areas from which the bulk of trawled fish is principally obtained 

 Suppl F was nave not varied much for some years. Again a large proportion was 

 obtained.' obtained off the Shetland Isles, the Viking, and Fladden Banks, and, in 

 western waters, from near Sulisker, Suleskerry, North Rona, and the 

 Butt of Lewis, as well as, in a lesser degree, from the grounds off Iceland 

 and Faroe. A careful record has been kept, and the following statement 

 will show, as in former years, the proportions of the catch obtained from 

 certain areas : — 





1906. 



1905. 



From Home Waters, 



Civts. 

 1,097,892 



£ 



652,105 



Cwts. 

 1,066,306 



660,149 



,, Faroe, - 



54,792 



26,902 



173,311 



49,971 



„ Iceland, 



223,519 



56,763 



96,261 



23,209 





1,376,203 



735,770 



1,335,878 



733,329 



From the above it will be seen that the aggregate increase in catch was 

 3 per cent, as compared with the preceding year's result. That figure 

 also represents the increase from home waters. The supply from 

 Icelandic waters shows the substantial increase of 132 per cent., but, on 

 the other hand, the supply from Faroe has gone down by 216 per cent., 

 and now more nearly approximates to the quantity brought from that 

 quarter in 1904. 



A considerable part of the supply from Iceland was brought in by 

 German trawlers, which made, in the course of the year, 68 landings 

 here. 



Steam The work of the steam liners was also attended with success. The 



Lme Fishing. vesse i s ma d e) i n \S05 landings, and showed an average catch of 83 

 cwts., and average earnings per landing of close on £53. Although 

 the aggregate landings of the steam line fleet amounted to 22,176 cwts. 

 less than in the preceding year, the value, on the other hand, was greater 

 by £2401, an increase which was almost entirely due to the higher value 

 received for ling. 



Principal Fish- In former years the liners used to obtain a large proportion of their 

 the steam* ° f catca ^ roai ^ ne Atlantic side, i.e. to westward of the Lewis, but this year 

 Line Fleet. the largest proportion came from the North Sea grounds, as fishing on 

 the western grounds became unprofitable through the presence of swarms 

 of dog-fish. It is also noteworthy that the weather was exceptionally 

 unfavourable for line fishing during the spring and winter of 1906. 



