Fishery Board for Scotland. 
xxvii 
lish cured. 
Vessels fitted 
out for this 
The number of tish cured was 4,114,774, of which 145,266 J cwts. Quantity 
were dried, and 6,186 barrels picklad, bein*? a decrease, a5 compared {;"i',^®![ra^^ 
with the preceding year, of 16,331 fish, 394J cwts., and 734 barrels vessels. 
re3peetively, — the remainder being consumed in a fresh state. Niimber of 
Fifty-one vessels and boats were fitted out for this fishery, — " 
their takes amounting to 637,380 fish, which, when cured dried, 
on board, weighed 15,533 cwts., as against 53 vessels and boats, fishery. 
644,305 fish, and 16,834, cwts., respectively, in 1889. Twenty-five Fish taken, 
of the above vessels belonged to Shetland, seventeen to Orkney, and f^oard?^^*^ 
nine to Fraserburgh. 
The Swedish vessels, which for several years have prosecuted Swedish 
the cod and ling fishing during the summer months off the ^^^^^i^- 
North Isles of Shetland, were very seldom seen there last year, 
— no doubt on account of the swarms of dog-fish which infested 
those waters. The fish taken by them were usually exposed for 
sale in ihe Swedish markets. 
About the end of March thirteen of the Shetland vessels were Details of the 
fitted out for the Faroe and Rockall fishing, which proved almost ^^^i^s- 
a failure at both places. These vessels afterwards proceeded to 
Iceland where they were more successful, all securing full cargoes, 
ranging irom 25,000 to 35,000 fish, and returning to Shetland about 
the end of August. Seven of the Shetland vessels, and five 
English smacks prosecuted the fishing upon the Shetland Coast 
with fair success, but were very much troubled by dog-fish. The Success of 
small boats which engaged in the cod fishing off Scalloway and ^"^^^^ 
other west side stations during the months of February, March, and 
April, were most successful when the weather was favourable. 
Upon several occasions these boats were unable, through being 
overloaded, to carry their takes to land, although the ground 
fished lay quite near the shore. A number of them landed from 
500 to 600 cwts. of fish, which realised from £100 to £130. A Large boats 
number of large boats from other districts were engaged in this engaged, 
fishing for about two months during the spring, their average 
earnings being about £160 per boat. Many of the large boats 
belonging to the district were equally successful. 
Since the returns of this fishery were first compiled, about 70 Shetland 
years ago, the quantities of cod, ling, and hake landed in Shetland foj^tiie last^ 
district each year, have greatly exceeded those of any other seventy years 
district in Scotland. The quantity cured there last year, was ^^^^^^^ ^^^gg 
1,600,369 fish, making when dried, 50,737 cwts., or 38*89 per cent, of any other 
of the number of fish, and 34*92 per cent, of the total quantity ^^^^^ 
cured in Scotland. The districts of Orkney and Stornoway follow there in^im 
with 25,298 cwts. dried, and 38 barrels pickled, and 23,130 cwts. Quantity cured 
dried, and 221 barrels pickled, respectively. Wick had the greatest gtoraowaV^"^ 
quantity pickled, amounting to 3,516 barrels, or more than one districts, 
half of the total quantity. Quantity 
This industry might be much more developed, particularly in wick.^^° 
the waters surrounding the islands of Orkney, Shetland, and the industry might 
Outer Hebrides. The ground lying from 3.0 to 100 miles N.W. of Jj^vXed''''^^ 
Unst is exceedingly rich in ling of good size and quality, and the *^*^^®°^®^* 
Swedish fisherman have for a number of years been taking immense Success of 
quantities to their own markets, only occasionally selling their 
catches to Shetland curers. There are other grounds with less 
