252 



Appendices to Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



English _ In view of the high prices obtained for herrings throughout the summer 

 Herring Fish- herring fishing, the prospects for the English fishing looked very 

 promising to fishermen, and a larger fleet than ever visited the English 

 stations, namely, 101 steam drifters and 225 sailing boats. In so far as 

 the steam drifters are concerned, the fishing proved a great financial 

 success. The majority of them earned from £1000 to £1610. The 

 sailing boats were not so fortunate, especially those fishing at Lowestoft, 

 owing, in a great measure, to congested harbour accommodation, which pre- 

 vented the boats for days together from getting to sea. The most 

 successful boat had gross earnings of £820, while a good many did no 

 more than clear the expenses of the voyage, so that the sailing boats' 

 average earnings were only about £180. 

 Barrel-making. Most of the coopers were steadily employed at barrel-making the whole 

 year round. All the barrels and half-barrels were made with an iron hoop 

 on head and bottom, this being the style of hooping most favoured by the 

 trade. A small barrel factory was opened at Buckie in the spring. 



The building of steam drifters has been actively carried on at all the 

 district stations, and in all 26 vessels were launched during the year, mostly 

 for local fishermen. The value of these vessels was £67,000 — a figure 

 never reached in the days of sailing boatbuilding. This branch of the 

 industry is fast developing, and another yard has been opened at 

 Garmouth, making in all nine yards building drifters. All the builders are 

 well supplied with orders for another year, and it is stated that 50 new 

 vessels are ordered or being negotiated for with Scottish and English 

 builders, most of them having to be ready for the early fishing in May. 



Fortunately, the loss of life was not so great as in 1905 ; but the loss of 

 netting, sustained chiefly at the Stornoway winter and the English fish- 

 ings, was very considerable. 



The two new barometers supplied by the Meteorological Council to 

 Portessie and Portknockie, are highly appreciated by the fishermen, and 

 this they have shown by fitting them up in a creditable manner. 



Boatbuilding. 



Loss of Life 

 and Fishing 

 Gear. 



Barometers. 



James Donaldson, 



Fishery Officer, 



Buckie, Hh January 190' 



Findhom District. 



General 

 Remarks. 



Increase 



Steam 



Drifters. 



Building 



Steam 



Drifters. 



The most notable features of the fishing industry of the district during 

 the year 1906 were the success of the steam drifters and the great demand 

 which has arisen for that type of vessel, 

 of Each succeeding year shows the superiority of the steam drifter over 

 the sailing craft. During the year under review the number of steam 

 drifters owned in the district was increased from thirteen to nineteen. 

 With the number that are in course of construction, and the orders that 

 are booked with builders, there will be over twenty steam vessels added 

 to the district fleet in the course of 1907. 

 °* There is every indication that the large sailing craft will in course of 

 time be entirely supplanted by the steam vessel. As there have not been 

 any sailing boats built for a year or two, and as none is likely to be 

 required, builders are now devoting their attention to the construction of 



