Method of Quantity. centage Quantity. centage Quantity. centage Quantity. centage of total. of total. of total. of total. Notwithstanding the coal shortage during 1926 the catch by steam trawlers was fairly well maintained, and accounted for over 70 per cent. of the aggregate landings. The catch by great line vessels, which also are mostly steamers, accounted for only 12 per cent. of the aggregate and showed a relatively larger decrease than trawlers. The operations of small line vessels were not affected by the shortage of coal, and their catch showed a large increase owing to greater activity displayed and also to the abundance of haddocks on the inshore grounds. The catch by seine nets was slightly greater than in 1925, but much lower than in 1924. 2. FISHING REGIONS. The quantity of demersal fish landed in Scotland by British vessels from each of the main fishing regions during 1926, with comparative figures for earlier years, is shown in the following table : The North Sea, which for statistical purposes is regarded as including the waters around Orkney and Shetland, yielded 70 per cent. of the aggregate landings; but this proportion was smaller than in any preceding post-war year or in 1913. Half of the balance was taken on the grounds to the westward of Scotland, the catch from which was greater than in 1925 or 1924, but smaller than in 1913. The large increase in the catch from Faroe, the landings from which while heaviest in April were well maintained throughout the year, is surprising in view of the extra consumption of coal involved in working these distant grounds. The bulk of the catch from each area was taken by trawl. Nearly a third of the catch on the grounds to the westward of Scotland, however, was secured by lines, while liners fishing at Faroe accounted for over one quarter of the aggregate landings from that area. Further particulars of the regions of fishing according to the methods of capture and kinds of fish taken are shown in Table 18 of the Board's Statistical Tables for 1926. 3. MONTHLY LANDINGS BY DISTRICTS. The following statement shows by fishery districts the distribution of the landings by British vessels over the year : RETURN showing the Quantity of WHITE (i.e. DEMERSAL) FISH landed by British Fishing Vessels in each Fishery District in Scotland in each Month of the Year 1926. District. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Totals. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. 544 22,216 543 476 590 1,103 -1,442 23,135 26,492 19,598 21,665 40,935 370,778 13,820 1,616 9,822 1,205 909 783 1,082 1,957 19,245 11,768 11,548 9,182 8,820 10,761 121,119 910 1,193 932 1,066 1,008 1,092 11,310 8,022 2,231 1,125 1,091 897 756 Fraserburgh- 3,223 2,699 1,928 2,555 2,360 2,880 1,764 Eyemouth Peterhead 691 1,168 977 1,090 1,037 566 384 1,139 10,573 852 2,019 1,784 23,923 Banff Buckie 5,473 6,447 3,500 3,616 5,132 5,069 42,346 722 874 521 708 18,165 Totals 1926 188,675 219,297 238,733 220,785 193,195 211,567 200,774 204,788 195,508 155,784 164,903 210,272 2,404,281 Totals 1925 162,817 164,088 240,211 208,463 212,650 228,401 244,640 221,366 198,685 198,631 185,085 203,171 2,468,208 The effect of the coal dispute on the monthly landings of fish is at once apparent from the foregoing return. In the four months preceding the dispute, viz., January to April, there was a total increase of 91,911 cwts. or 12 per cent. over the landings in the corresponding period of 1925, while the catch for the remainder of the year showed a decrease of 155,838 cwts. or 9 per cent. The deficit for the whole year amounted to 63,927 cwts., or less than 3 per cent. of the aggregate for 1925. The heaviest landings of demersal fish were as usual made at the trawling ports of Aberdeen, Leith and Dundee on the East Coast, and at Oban and Ayr on the West Coast. Although the landings at Aberdeen are made almost exclusively by steam vessels and are therefore likely to be affected by a coal shortage to a greater extent than those at most other ports, the decline in the catch at Aberdeen was not relatively high, and the port again accounted for over 60 per cent. of the aggregate landings in Scotland. In Leith District, however, where 15 per cent. of the aggregate Scottish catch was landed, the shortage as compared with the previous year amounted to 21 per cent. 4. COMPOSITION OF CATCH AND WHOLESALE PRICES. The quantity, value, and average price at the ports of landing of the principal species of demersal fish landed in Scotland by British fishing vessels in 1926 are given below in order of value, with comparative figures for the years 1925 and 1913 : Total demersal fish. 2,404,281 2,604,716 21 8 2,468,208 2,705,995 21 11 2,735,252 1,632,762 As usual more than half the aggregate, both as regards quantity and value, consisted of haddocks, cod and codling. The quantities of halibut, lemon soles and plaice landed were relatively small, but were of greater monetary value than the much heavier landings of whitings, skates and rays, ling and saithe. 11 11 The landings of haddocks and of cod and codling were heavier than in 1925, or indeed any recent year, and in view of the increasing quantities it is interesting to examine the catches of these species according to selections or trade categories. While such particulars are not available in respect of the total landings, details are regularly obtained at Aberdeen, where one half of the landings of these species in Scotland are made. The following table shows the percentage proportion of each selection in the landings by Aberdeen vessels in the various years : Selection. 1913. 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923, 1924. 1925, 1926. As the selection is arbitrary the size limits of the various categories may vary from time to time according to the supplies available, but on the whole the figures are considered to be fairly comparable. As regards both haddocks and cod the proportion of small fish in the landings in the earlier post-war years was nearly the same as in 1913, but in the later post-war years the proportion of small fish has increased, and the increase was greatest in respect of the landings during 1926. The average value of white fish of all kinds as sold at the quayside at the ports of landing was 21s. 8d. per cwt., as compared with 21s. 11d. in 1925 and 23s. 10d. in 1924. While the average price for 1926 was the lowest for any post-war year except 1922, when the average was only 20s. 6d., it was greater by 9s. 9d. or 82 per cent. than that of 1913. As regards the various species the prices for the majority were higher than in 1925, but decreases occurred in cod, plaice and whitings. The average value of haddocks at first sale rose from 19s. 3d. per cwt. in 1925 to 19s. 11d. in 1926, but even then was only 4s. 1d. or 26 per cent. above the level in 1913, when, however, the price of haddocks was higher than usual owing apparently to a shortage in the catch in that year. Taking the prices prevailing in 1913 as a standard the percentage ratios of the average wholesale prices of the principal species in recent years are as follow : The British trawl landings of demersal fish in Scotland during 1926 amounted to 1,693,586 cwts., valued at £1,802,713, as compared with 1,776,459 cwts. and £1,902,107 in 1925. The landings were made by steam vessels, except for small quantities landed by motor and sail trawlers mainly in the Solway area, amounting in 1926 to 3,604 cwts. and 1,928 cwts. respectively. The Aberdeen steam trawl fleet, which accounted for 71 per cent. of the aggregate trawl catch, was employed as usual in the North Sea, around Orkney and Shetland, in various areas off the west of Scotland to as far as Rockall, and off Faroe. The more distant "home" grounds, e.g. around Shetland, were less intensively fished than usual, but notwithstanding the shortage of bunkers there was greater activity off Faroe, especially in September, owing apparently to an abundance of fish in that area. Only one local trawler made trips to Iceland, British landings from that area being made chiefly by English vessels, which landed big shots of salted fish. The increased activity at Faroe resulted in heavy landings of cod and codling, for which lower prices prevailed than in the previous year. An increase in the catch of haddocks was confined to the smaller selections and was most pronounced in landings from Shetland. British trawlers made in all 9,561 arrivals at Aberdeen during the year, representing 43,239 days' absence from port, and landed 1,206,115 cwts. of white fish valued at £1,305,933, as compared with 10,483 arrivals, 51,328 days, 1,205,913 cwts. and £1,368,724 in 1925. The average catch per day's absence was 27.9 cwts. as against 23-5 cwts. in 1925, the increase being attributable to the abundance of the smaller selections of codling and haddocks. The prices for these selections, however, were well maintained, and the average earnings per day's absence amounted to £30, 4s. as against £26, 14s. in 1925. The cost of coal was naturally high, while there was no reduction in the price of stores, gear, &c., and the year's results were generally unremunerative. The steam trawl fleet belonging to Leith District was not regularly employed from the district throughout the year, as a large part of the fleet was laid up during the coal dispute, while 18 of the largest vessels were employed for more than half of the year on the West Coast grounds with bases at Oban and Ayr. Moreover, Leith vessels, which were working on the more distant northern grounds, frequently landed their catches at Aberdeen in order to reduce expenses. There were in all 3,073 arrivals in the district, mostly at Granton, representing 12,867 days' absence from port, and the landings amounted to 344,266 cwts., valued at £326,966, as compared with 441,981 cwts. and £388,290 in 1925. Owing to the shortage of coal the nearer grounds extending from the Bell Rock to the Longstone Lighthouse received more attention than usual, but the best catches were secured on the more distant North Sea grounds in the vicinity of the Coral, Viking and Fisher Banks. The smaller selections of haddocks and whitings again accounted for the bulk of the landings. The more valuable species, e.g. plaice and lemon soles, were rarely represented in the catches from the distant grounds, but moderate supplies were landed from the nearer grounds. The quantity of fish despatched direct from the landing quay to Glasgow market amounted to 130,712 cwts., as against 201,469 cwts. in 1925, the falling off being partly due to the heavier supplies arriving in that market from other sources. The earnings during 1926 averaged £25, 8s. per day's absence as against £22, 18s. in 1925, but owing to heavier working expenses and less regular operations the year's results were unremunerative. |