approved by the Board. Whaling was accordingly conducted by this company during the season from the Harris station, and also by the company which had been at work in Shetland in the previous year.

A petition by fishery interests in Shetland for the suppression of all whaling there, under the powers conferred on the Secretary for Scotland by the Whale Fisheries (Scotland) (Amendment) Act, 1922, was considered by your predecessor, who however intimated in March of last year that he did not see his way to take the action desired.

The steamers and men employed at the two stations in operation last year, as compared with 1922 and 1920, were as follow:

Every effort is being made by the whaling companies to train local labour to the necessary standard of efficiency, and the proportion of British to Norwegian employees now contrasts very favourably with that before the war. The whaling steamers, however, continue to be manned almost exclusively by Norwegians.

The number of whales taken last year did not show an increase at all corresponding to the increased catching power, as the following table indicates:

Whaling is permissible from April to October, but actually the season lasts from April or May to September. Sei whales, which are of medium size, ranging usually from 40 to 50 feet, were remarkably scarce last summer, but for what reason is not known. The largest whale taken was a blue whale, measuring 90 feet in length by 50 in girth; those of this species captured, it may be remarked, are usually from 70 to 80 feet long, while fin whales are from 60 to 70 feet. The whale of other species taken last year was a "right" whale of 48 feet in length, which yielded 7 cwts. of whalebone, valued at £115. The whaling grounds lay, generally speaking, from 30 to 60 miles. north and north-west of the Shetlands and from north of Lewis to west of St. Kilda.

The quantity and value of the products manufactured from whales during the year, as compared with 1922 and 1920, are shown in the following table :

TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION.

The question of transport and distribution as affecting the Scottish fishing industry was fully discussed in the Board's Reports for the years 1920 and 1921, in which were indicated the difficulties in this respect with which the trade is faced-difficulties due not only to the considerable distance between the Scottish fishing ports. and the more important inland markets, but to other natural disadvantages in connection with the means of transit and communication; and in the Report for the year 1922 mention was made of improvements which had been effected in transport facilities and the greater efficiency which had been attained in various directions.

During the year under review this improvement was maintained, and in several instances services were increased or speeded up and more suitable connections given, while some reductions and concessions affecting rates were introduced. The keen competition between the Eastern and Western Railway groups to secure Scottish traffic continued to be in evidence. The steamer services on the West Coast were, however, still a subject of complaint locally.

The Board have continued to keep in close touch with the railway and steamship authorities, who have been found most willing and ready to assist the trade wherever possible.

There has been a noticeable increase in the employment of motor road transport for the distribution of fish, chiefly in country districts within easy run of the smaller ports of landing or conveniently served from inland towns which have good railway connections with the coast.

Generally, the transport arrangements may be said to have worked smoothly and satisfactorily in 1923, the conditions having been normal except during the period between 24th February and 14th May, to which reference is made elsewhere, when the Aberdeen fishing fleet was laid up and the consequent shortage of supplies from that port involved some adjustment of the distributive organisation. Apart from this, the difficulties were not accentuated by any prolonged strike or serious dislocation of trade. The general consumption of fish was, however, again adversely affected by the shortage of money throughout the country due to unemployment and the prevalent distress.

For the purpose of obtaining detailed information as to the existing arrangements for the distribution of fish, the Board, towards the end of the year, issued a questionnaire to Scottish towns where the population exceeded 3000-115 in all. Through the courtesy of the Town Clerks-to whom the Board are greatly indebted-particulars as to the numbers of fishmongers, fried fish shops and hawkers working in these towns were obtained and other useful information concerning the local means of distribution. The statements furnished were under consideration at the close of the year.

It may be briefly stated that while the number of fishmongers' establishments does not show much recent change, there has been an appreciable increase in the number of fish friers and to a less degree in the number of hawkers in Scotland, both of which outlets should tend to extend the general consumption of fish when trade improves.

The Board would again emphasise the need for greater efficiency and co-operation in the organisation of distribution to the consumer in order that fish may be regularly obtainable in good condition and at the lowest price possible. While such organisation is primarily a matter for the wholesale and retail traders themselves, there would also appear to be some scope for municipal enterprise in the provision of markets and cold storage or the improvement of existing arrangements.

CHAPTER VI.
DEVELOPMENT.

1. DISPOSAL OF ADMIRALTY DRIFTERS TO EX-SERVICE FISHERMEN.

The scheme for the sale to ex-service fishermen of drifters built for the Admiralty during the war has now been closed down, all the vessels allocated to the Board having been finally disposed of. These vessels-70 in number-represented, after allowing for the reduction of 25 per cent. on the original purchase price sanctioned by the Treasury in 1921, a value of £306,000.

The continued depression in the industry and the high value placed on the vessels militated against the successful working of the scheme, and only in a limited number of cases were the purchasers able to make any payments towards meeting the instalments which fell due, and in many cases, where it was clearly evident that the

purchasers could not hope to retrieve their position, the Board were compelled, with much reluctance, to foreclose the mortgages. The very generous concession granted by the Treasury towards the end of the preceding year, whereby the purchasers were afforded the opportunity of buying their vessels outright for cash at prices very considerably less than those fixed under the scheme, was, however, taken advantage of by many crews who were fortunate enough to be able to raise the money required.

The vessels thus purchased numbered 36, and the sum realised for them was £77,060. There were 31 cases in which the mortgage had to be foreclosed and these realised £74,370, while 3 vessels were sold outright at the beginning of the scheme for £12,000, the total receipts from the scheme thus amounting to £163,430.

2. LOBSTER FISHERY DEVELOPMENT.

The lobster investigations, consisting mainly of the collection of scientific and statistical data, which may form a basis for the future regulation and development of the fishery, were continued during 1923 on the reduced scale necessitated by the limited funds available. The investigations were principally carried out on the West Coast, where an expert and a staff of observers under the supervision of the Scientific Superintendent were engaged in the collection of much useful material, which was tabulated and worked up at the Laboratory at Aberdeen. Details of the work done are given in Chapter X-Scientific Investigations-p. 53.

3. OYSTER FISHERY DEVELOPMENT.

The general plan which was adopted by the Board as the most suitable in attempting to resuscitate the oyster fisheries of Scotland -which at one time were among the most important in Europewas to establish a central breeding station, to demonstrate the practicability of rearing oysters in Scottish waters, and to create small holdings in different parts of the West Highlands and elsewhere in Scotland which would be supplied from the central breeding station, the ultimate aim of the scheme being the establishment of a subsidiary industry in localities where additional employment is greatly required. Financial considerations and other factors prevented the development of the scheme on the lines contemplated, and the Board's efforts were practically restricted to placing small experimental layings of oysters in Loch Feochan and Loch Don. As a result of the operations in 1922 it became clear that more uniform attention to the layings was necessary than could be secured under the arrangements authorised, and the Board felt that the only course open to them was to suspend operations on the scheme until such time as it might be possible to conduct it on an adequate scale. The scheme was discontinued with regret, and it is hoped that when financial conditions are more favourable it will be possible to revive it.

4. USE OF AIRCRAFT FOR LOCATING FISH SHOALS.

Reference was made in the Report for 1922 to the arrangements reached with the Air Ministry for the purpose of testing the practica

bility of locating shoals of herring by observation from the air, and it was mentioned that for various reasons no favourable opportunity presented itself during that year for carrying out the experiments. Prior to the summer herring fishing of 1923 the matter was taken up with the Departments concerned, but unfortunately it was not possible to make the necessary arrangements. It is hoped that the means at the disposal of the Air Ministry will permit of these experiments, which are anticipated with interest by the Scottish herring fishing industry, being undertaken during the current year.

5. FISH PRESERVATION COMMITTEE.

The Fish Preservation Committee of the Food Investigation Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, on which the Board are represented, held three meetings during the year.

The investigations directed by this Committee cover a wide range, the more important subjects dealt with in which Scottish interests are concerned being as follows:-freezing processes and cold storage, refrigeration in trawlers and insulation of fish holds, inland transport of fish and temperature observations, various methods of fish preservation, and questions relating to the bye-products of fisheries. The investigation into the red discolouration in dried salted fish, which was in progress in 1922, was completed during the year under review.

At the request of the Department, the Board supplied through their Fishery Officers various samples of decayed sails and nets to the Fabrics Co-ordinating Research Committee, who are engaged in an investigation into the deterioration of fabrics by the action of bacteria and moulds.

6. INTELLIGENCE.

The Board have constantly in view the dissemination of useful information of interest to the industry, to which end they circulate, through their Fishery Officers, reports received through the Department of Overseas Trade and other channels as to possible openings for British trade or changes in market conditions abroad, and communicate to the press paragraphs of more general interest, including periodical statements and reports on the results of various fishings.

They have also since 1895 maintained a system of official telegraphic information between the various ports where herring fishing is in progress, stating the number of arrivals of herring boats, the average catch, the quality of the fish, the range of prices, the position of the fishing grounds, and the nature of the weather. The number of telegrams sent, which has for reasons of economy been kept as low as practicable, was last year 2385, at an estimated cost of £238. This telegraphic exchange of reliable information has proved of great and acknowledged benefit to the industry by securing a better distribution of the fleet and of curing staffs, and thereby stabilising prices, and generally by assisting to reduce the elements of chance and uncertainty which necessarily characterise the herring fishery.