34 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
APPENDIX B. — No. I. 
COD AND LING FISHERY. — Details, taken from the reports of 
the inspectors and district fishery officers, regarding the cod 
ling, and hake fishery of 1889. 
This fishery was unusually successful during the past year, — the 
gross catch being considerably higher than that of 1888, or any of the 
preceding seven years. Of the total quantity of fish landed, 
145,661 cwts. were cureJ dried, and 6920 barrels cured in pickle, 
against 137,216 cwts. dried, and 7052 barrels pickled in 1888 — 
being an increase of 8445 cwts. dried, and a decrease of 132 barrels 
pickled. There was also an increase over 1888, in the quantity 
sold for use in a fresh state, of no less than 37,731 cwts. 
Of the quantity cured dried, 16,834 cwts. were cured on board 
of 53 vessels and boats fitted out for this fishery. The total 
number of fish landed and cured last year amounted to 4,131,105, 
as compared with 3,910,283 in the preceding year, being an 
increase of 220,822 fish. Twenty-seven vessels fished from 
Shetland, 16 from Orkney, 9 from Fraserburgh, and one from 
Campbeltown, while 10 or 12 Swedish vessels fished during the 
summer months off the Shetland coast — usually 40 to 100 miles 
N.W. of Unst, and in from 100 to 200 fathoms of water. Swedish 
vessels have, for several years, prosecuted this fishing in the same 
vicinity, and have usually been remarkably successful. Last season, 
however, very few of their catches were landed at Balta Sound as 
formerly, owing to the low prices offered by local curers. Conse- 
quently they took the greatest proportion of their catches home for 
sale in the Swedish markets. Twenty-one of the Shetland vessels 
fished at Farce and Eockall during the early spring, but finding 
the fishing unsuccessful they returned home. On proceeding to the 
same vicinity a second time, they found no improvement, and went 
to Iceland, where they met with better success, most of them 
securing full cargoes. The smaller vessels and boats prosecuted 
the fishing off the Shetland coast, and found the fish unusually 
abundant, and were generally very successful — a number of boats 
landing from 50 to 54 tons each of fish in eight weeks — perhaps the 
largest catches ever taken in Shetland by individual boats. Although 
prices were low, many of the boats' crews realised £300 each for 
their catches. Some of these boats, belonging to other districts and 
to English stations, took part in the fishing for only a short period. 
It was most unfortunate that so many of the native boats should 
have been absent during such a remunerative season. Swarms of 
dogfish appeared on the grounds early in July, and put a complete 
stop to the fishing for the season. 
Shetland continues to be the chief centre for the prosecution of 
this industry. The quantity of fish cured dried there last year was 
61,065 cwts., or 7218 per cent, of the whole quantity cured dried 
in Scotland. Orkney and Stornoway come next, but last year fish 
