Impact on Fishing and Agriculture

Question 1

Fishing During the War

Answer 1

*The North Sea was almost totally closed due to the threat of naval attack which meant fishing was restricted to the West Coast
*Many boats were used by the Navy as patrol boats and minesweepers
*The herring trade with Russia & Germany was lost
*Restriction on how much could be fished pushed up prices and eventually white fish was rationed

Question 2

Fishing After the War

Answer 2

*Struggled to recover
*By the 1930’s there was a slow recovery but not near the levels before the war
*The Eastern herring trade was lost
*Fuel costs had risen
*Many boats used by the Navy were destroyed

Question 3

Agriculture During the War

Answer 3

*Many horses were taken by army
*Many farm workers joined up to fight
*By the end of the war workers had fallen to 89000
*Spring 1917 food shortages became more serious as German submarines began targeting merchant ships bringing in food imports
*Food prices began to rise so therefore so did the risk of discontent
*January 1918, the Ministry of Food introduced rationing. Sugar, followed by butcher meat, full-scale rationing in Scotland in April 1918
*Some farmers did well, and some farm workers saw their wages double
*Sheep farmers did well as the Government had high demand for wool for soldiers’ blankets and uniforms. In 1918 sheep prices were 60% higher than 1914.

Question 4

Agriculture After the War

Answer 4

*Agriculture declined as the number of workers in farming fell and machines began to replace workers and animals
*The demand for wool fell and the Government was not prepared to help control high prices
*The 1920’s were a difficult time for Scottish farmers