of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



247 



Comparative Statement showing the Working of Steam and Sail Vessels 

 from Peterhead during the Great Summer Herring Fishing, 1906. 





Number of 



Vessels 

 Employed. 



Average 

 Number of 



Voyages 

 per Vessel. 



Average 

 Number of 



Voyages 

 per Week. 



Total 

 Number of 

 Voyages. 



Average 

 Catch per 

 Voyage. 



Average 

 Catch for 

 Season. 



Steam 



44 



47 



3-2 



2,051 



26 



Crans. 

 1,237 



Sail . 



203 



29 



2- 



6,064 



21 



638 





247 







8,115 







William Jeffrey, 



Fishery Officer. 



Peterhead. 7th January 1907. 



Fraserburgh District. 



The most remarkable features in connection with the fisheries of the General 

 district during the past year have been the long period during which the Remarkft 

 herring fishing was carried on, and the change of opinion amongst fisher- 

 men in regard to the utility of steam vessels for net and line fishing. 

 The quantity and value of fish landed show a considerable increase, 

 almost wholly in herrings. Fishermen and fishworkers have had a 

 prosperous year, while fishcurers have made little or no profit on the 

 business, owing to the high prices which have prevailed for fresh 

 herrings. 



There is very little change in the quantity and value of fishing gear. Means of 



A new steam drifter, six sail boats of the largest size, and about thirty Capture, 

 small and medium-sized sail boats were added to the fleet. The sail 

 boats replace about an equal number which have been broken up or sold 

 to other districts and struck off the register. 



The continued success of steam vessels has caused a change in the 

 opinion of fishermen belonging to the district. The great majority have 

 hitherto held aloof from steam vessels, being hopeful that some other 

 means, motor or otherwise, might be found suitable as an auxiliary to 

 sails, and so enable them to continue using their present boats, most of 

 which are of the largest size. The success of steam vessels has now forced 

 them to the conclusion that, although these are expensive to begin with, 

 they can, if diligently wrought, produce much higher earnings than sail 

 boats. In consequence of this change of opinion, three new steam drifters 

 are at present being built in the district, several others are ordered, and a 

 number of orders have been placed in other districts. No first-class sail 

 boats are now being built. It is expected that there will be a fleet of about 

 twenty steam drifters belonging to the district by the end of next year. 

 Were it not for the fact that fishermen cannot now dispose of their sail 

 boats except at a great sacrifice in price, a much larger number of fisher- 

 men would at once adopt steamers. 



A few boats commenced herring fishing operations about the middle of Summer 

 April, and from that time to the end of May 4411 crans were landed. Hemng 

 The herrings at this early date were remarkably good, consisting of young °' 

 fat fish. These were mostly disposed of as fresh or kippered. In June 



