Retrenchment, Modernisation, Growth, Catastrophe 1882-1914

It is worth looking at the statistics at the time of the first report by the new board as they show how there had been significant changes in the relative importance of both fishing districts and destinations. The Fraserburgh and Peterhead districts remained strong. Wick continued to decline, while Shetland and Aberdeen had become important. On the Continent, the relative importance of the Russian market continued to grow. Not only were herring exported to Libau and St. Petersburg, but both Danzig ¹ and Königsberg ² acted as entrepôts for the Russian markets. One important innovation in the first report of the new Board is the section on scientific investigations ³ . At the time there was very little understanding of the life cycle of the herring. This work was to increase in importance in future years.