Scotland in the nineteenth century

7. Fisheries

Section 7.7: Sea fisheries

The report considered the loss of 100 fishermen in the gale and the measures that could be taken to avoid a recurrence of the disaster. Plans were included of the types of boat used and their advantages and disadvantages.

The report concentrated on the harbours of Wick, Banff, Fraserburgh and Peterhead but also gave a plan of Lybster harbour and the creation of a fishing village. Details were also included on the British Fisheries Society. Captain Washington thought, rather than build one large harbour of refuge, it would be better to improve the existing small harbours along the coast.

"to consider the expediency of adopting measures for the preservation and improvement of the sea fisheries in the seas around the British Islands, including the prohibition of the capture, landing, or sale of undersized sea fish, the prohibition of the sale or possession of certain sea fish during the periods when their capture is forbidden, the fixing of close seasons, the prohibition or regulation of certain methods of fishing, the protection of defined areas, and other like regulations, international or otherwise."

[page 137]

There had been a considerable decrease in the number of flat fish, especially sole and plaice, in the North Sea. This was mainly attributed to over-fishing. One of the remedies suggested was the prohibition of the landing and sale of flat fish under a certain size. It was also suggested that a close-time should be established for herrings.

Such a measure would not only prevent the curing of smaller herrings but would also keep up the price of herrings. Others thought the adoption of a close-time for herrings would be impracticable, and the Committee decided that such a measure was unnecessary.

The Committee advocated international regulations concerning territorial limits. Many of the Scottish witnesses thought that the limits should be extended from 3 miles to between 9 and 12 miles. The necessity for improved harbour accommodation in Scotland was stressed. The Committee recommended that the Scottish Fishery Board should apply the funds allocated for harbour improvement as a security for loans to be made by the Public Works Loans Board for harbours.

Peter Esslemont, Chairman of the Scotch Fishery Board (pp. 142-259) and numerous fishermen gave evidence relating to their methods of fishing and their opinions on close-times, harbours, the capture of immature fish, the imposition of fines and the proposal to establish district fisheries committees. Some suggested the establishment of artificial hatcheries to increase the number of fish. The facilities for the transportation of fish and for telegraphic communication with the outlying districts were discussed and many complained about the high rates charged by railway companies.

Appendix 6: Tables showing the quantity and value of herrings, cod and ling, caught and cured in Scotland and the number of fishing boats and fishermen, and a precis of the opinions of fishermen, fish-curers and salesmen on the question of close-times for herrings, submitted to the Fishery Board for Scotland (pp. 389-392).