200- 
Part III. — Tenth Annual Report 
In 1876, 11 Banffshire crews tried the cod and ling fishing at Shetland, 
and their success was such as to induce them to return annually in in- 
creased numbers, f Sixerns ' had formerly been almost theonly boats used 
in the herring and longline fisheries, and the Shetland fishermen did' 
not think the local grounds could be conveniently worked in larger 
boats ; but the success of the strangers changed their ideas. The great 
disaster of 1881 (in which 61 lives were lost) gave them an increased 
dislike for the £ sixerns,' and the prosperity of the herring fishing made it 
possible for a good many of them to provide themselves with boats like 
those used by the East Coast fishermen. 
From 1880 to 1885 the development of 1 the fishing was altogether 
phenomenal. 
Since 1885 the fishings have been very irregular, and the results often 
disappointing to all concerned. Dog-fish have been the chief cause of 
failure, but another reason, no doubt, is the great depth of the water in 
which the fishing is carried on. Even on banks where the depth is only 
20 or 30 fathoms, as in the Moray Firth, the herring-shoals do not always 
rise, when it is well known that they are on the ground — their movements 
being, no doubt, affected by the weather, the tides, or the movements of the 
fry upon which they may be feeding. Their habits would naturally be 
much more irregular where the depth is two or three times as great. 
In Shetland there are two distinct herring fishings. The early fishing 
is carried on along the West Coast and around the North Isles, from the 
middle of June to the middle of July. Of 514 boats employed in 1891, 
less than half were owned and manned by natives, and the rest came from 
various places along the East Coast of Scotland, or from the Orkney Islands. 
East Coast fishermen show pronounced preferences for particular stations. 
From the Montrose, Fraserburgh, and Banff districts the fishermen go 
almost exclusively to Baltasound, while those from Peterhead and the ad- 
jacent villages go regularly to Cullivoe, Whalfirth, and Ronasvoe. This 
selection is not brought about by the curers so much as by the fishermen's 
own inclinations. 
The herrings caught during the early season are rich and well-flavoured, 
but they have not, generally, melt and roe well developed, and, therefore, 
are not officially branded. 
Spent herrings are found on the grounds in May ; small young herrings 
early in June ; and these again are replaced as the month advances, some- 
times apparently in a night, by a larger race of fish, which, in turn, often 
disappear as suddenly as they came. Swedish fishermen often : say they 
get numbers of large herrings in the stomachs of cod and ling caught in 
the deep water off Unst, after the British fishermen cease to get any in^ 
their nets. - • : > 
There is generally a period of three or four weeks before the 8th or 10th 
August that no herrings are got about the North Isles, and, on account of 
this time of enforced idleness, East Coast fishermen give up fishing and go 
home about the middle of July. 
The late fishing is carried on all along the east coast of the islands, from 
Barrels cured. 
1879, . 
1880, . 
1881, . 
1882, . 
1883, . 
1884, . 
1885, . 
8,755 
48,552 
59,586 
134,187 
256,487 
300,117 
369,895 
