248 



Appendices to Twenty^fifth Annual Report 



45,049 crans were landed, and curing for the Continental market became 

 general. During July 61,705 crans were landed, and the quality 

 continued to improve. In August 65,427 crans were landed. A long 

 stretch of calm and sultry weather prevailed during the greater part of 

 July and August, in consequence of which the catcli was very much 

 curtailed. Owing to this circumstance, and the shortage of the catch in 

 Shetland, the price of fresh and cured herrings advanced considerably. 

 The fishing was continued until the end of September, and 24,394 crans 

 were landed during that month. A few years ago the fishing extended 

 only over a period of from eight to ten weeks, while this year the fishing 

 was carried on for a period of eighteen weeks. Remarkably fine weather 

 prevailed during the whole season. On one night only were fishermen 

 prevented from shooting their nets by stormy weather. Compared with 

 the returns of the previous year, there is a considerable increase in the 

 quantity and value of herrings landed. 



Steam drifters were responsible for 18 - 54 per cent, of the catch, at an 

 average price of 21s. Id. per crau, whilst sail boats accounted for 8T46 

 per cent., with an average price of 21s. lid. The average price for the 

 whole catch was 21s. 9Jd. per cran, compared with 16s. 6|d. last year. 

 With regard to the lower average price shown by steam drifters, it has to 

 be explained that they landed the larger portion of their catch early in 

 the season, when the lowest prices prevailed. As a rule, steam drifters 

 are the first to arrive, and generally obtain from Is. to 2s. more per cran 

 than sail boats. 



Exportation. Compared with the previous year's returns, an increase is shown in the 

 exports of cured herrings to Helsingsfors, St. Petersburg, Port Baltic, 

 Libau, Konigsberg, Danzig, and Stettin, while ^Vyborg, Revel, and 

 Hamburg show a decrease. 



The Russian Government having decided to impose the ordinary duty 

 on cured herrings entering that country by the port of Archangel, the 

 import of cured herrings from this district came to a sudden end. In 

 1905 about twenty thousand barrels of cured herrings were sent to 

 Archangel from this district. 



A cargo of about 1200 barrels of early cured herrings was brought back 

 from Stettin. These were reported by Continental agents to be in bad 

 condition. On a close re-examination here, three-fourths were found to 

 be in fairly good condition, and were re-shipped to other Continental 

 ports, where they realised fair prices. It is generally believed that the 

 condition in which these herrings were found on their re-examination here 

 was principally due to the intense sun-heat to which they had been 

 subjected on the Continent. 

 Stock on At the end of the fishing season about 16,500 barrels of cured 



Hand. herrings remained on hand. These were all exported or disposed of by 



the end of the year. 



Line Fishing. Fully one hundred boats prosecuted the small-line fishing during seven 

 months of the year, and about twenty large boats fished with great-lines 

 during the months of February, March, and April. Line fishing was not 

 so successful as last year, but during the period fishermen were so 

 employed they made a fair livelihood. 



Cooper Trade. The manufacture of herring barrels continues to give steady employment 

 and good wages to a large number of coopers. The number of barrels 

 made in the district again exceeded all previous records. 



Steam The local Steam Trawling Company has had a fairly successful year at 



Trawlers. Aberdeen, and paid a dividend of 10 per cent. It is reported that the 

 company intends to add a few steam drifters to its fleet. 



Harbours. Owing to the increase in the size of fishing boats, the harbours are not 



now available for several hours during low spring tides. An effort is 



