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FISH
ANYWHER,
Modestly Beginning With Horses, George T. Fraser, Ltd., Have Become Vital to Aberdeen's Major Industry
THE maxim of providing facilities to suit the requirements of individual customers has been strictly observed by George T. Fraser, Ltd., Aberdeen, with results that speak for themselves. They have specialized in fish traffic and have recently introduced handling methods that have been examined with interest by many members of the fish trade. Two-way radio is also helping to raise efficiency.
The Erasers arrived in Aberdeen fish market in 1920, when Mr. James Fraser started as a local haulier and was later joined by his brother, Mr. George T. Fraser, as foreman. .Local fish traffic in those days was all horsedrawn, whilst long-distance haulage was by rail.
During the fish-trade slump, in the middle twenties, the railways refused to reduce their rates, and a number of Aberdeen hauliers started road services to Glasgow and other destina tions to the south. Realizing the opportunities that lay ahead, Mr. James Fraser disposed of his horses and purchased lorries for long-distance work.
It was at this stage that his brother
spent his life savings of £250 on six of Mr. James Fraser's horses and carts to take on the local work. From the first it was essentially a family business and although Mrs. Eraser, -sen., did not take an active part, she exerted strong influence on dayto-day affairs. There is no doubt that her business acumen was largely responsible for their success.
Miss. Elaine, Fraser undertook the administration, whilst Mr. George T. Fraser, jun., started on the bottom rung and progressed through the various stages of office .boy, driver's mate, and driver.
First Motor—£20 The concern purchased its first motor vehicle, a second-hand Ford model T, for £20, in 1932, and by the outbreak of war the " fleet " had increased to three motor vehicles and 23 horse-drawn lorries. Despite the difficulties of the war years Erasers kept their fleet going and by 1946 had built it up to seven motor vehicles.
Mr. Fraser, jun., who as a territorial soldier had been called up for service in 1939, spent much of his Army life as a sergeant fitter, in charge of about 40 vehicles. On demobilization, in 1946, he gradually assumed responsibility in the undertaking, particularly in regard to the operation and control of the motor vehicles and their attendant licensing problems.
Two things were uppermost in his mind when he returned. First the horses had to be replaced by moto( vehic10, if the concern were to meet , customers' needs and withstand competition. Secondly it was essential that a good knowledge of licensing law be acquired.
His studies in this direction certainly bore fruit for, between 1946 and the present day, the fleet has increased to 38 vehicles. Seven are oink licence, six on contract A, 22 on B licence, and the remainder serve as spares. He has one difficulty, however, the multiplicity of B-licence condition.
He hopes shortly• to overcome this problem by an application to the Scottish Licensing Authority to consolidate the vehicles on one licence with a condition of "general goods, within 40 miles."
A modernization programme was put in hand to replace the horsedrawn vehicles, and this was accomplished by 1950. Erasers were thus able to increase their scope and meet the changing requirements of the fish merchants, as the tendency towards amalgamation and large-scale operation became more evident. Their operations can best be described as "mainly fish, anywhere," with a large amount of dock traffic and general local haulage. In the early days after the war new vehicles were difficult to obtain and as a result the fleet is mixed. At present manufacturers represented include: Thames, Austin. Dodge, Bedford and Albion. •Standardization on Albion Chieftains and Thames 3-tonners with low-loading chassis is now the aim.
The Thames vehicles, with waisthigh platforms, are particularly useful for the local carriage of open " Aberdeen" fish boxes, which cannot be stacked. Some 35 of these. 1-cwt.
boxes can be accommodated as many as on a 5-ton vehicle. For long-distance work, customers' own lidded boxes are used—approximately 160 7-stone boxes comprising a full load for a 7-tortner.'
From Fraser's point of view the advantage of the Chieftains is that, while they can carry 6-8 tons over long distances, they are equally suitable for local work. A replacement programme is in full swing, and an average of one new vehicle per month has been bought over the past two years. All but nine .vehicles in the existing fleet are oil-engined.
Much of the fish work, which is within a radius of three to five miles, is between the market and merchants' premises. Fraser's reputation for service stands high. and they are responsible for the majority of this type of haulage in the area. Longer-distance work includes the carriage of white fish, for MacFisheries, to the curing and smoking factories at Fraserburgh and Buckle; and fish for Robert Croan and Sons, Ltd., Newhaven, near Leith. from the north Scottish ports of Ullapool, Gareloch and Mallaig, to Newhaven, Glasgow, Fleetwood, Hull and Grimsby.
A large quantity of fish is also delivered for Croan's to a modern pet-food factory at Melton Mowbray. Because of winter scarcities, the pet-food manufacturers take large quantities of herring during the summer and freeze them until required. To increase load capacity to Melton Mowbray, Fraser's place boxes round the edges of vehicle platforms and fill the middle with loose fish before icing and sheeting. • The constant aim of the company has been to provide transport facilities
This Lister truck, with an elevating platform, was used by Mr. Fraser to demon.strate mechanical handling methods at Aberdeena
to suit the individual requirements of many customers, and, in pursuing this end the directors have adopted a progressiVe policy . which has completely transformed the pre-war nature of the business, After disposing of the horses, the problem of garage and office accommodation was tackled.
Existing premises at Kindore Place and Sinclair Road, Aberdeen, were too far from the centre of operations, and when in June, 1956, the company were able to -purchase a 14,000-sq.-ft. fish store in the dock area, at Raik Road, they snatched the Opportunity.
Petrol pumps, ramps and modern workshops were installed, but as the fleet grew, even more .space was required. At the end of 'January garage premises on the Commercial Quay itself, formerly' occupied by J. Crone, Ltd., trawler owners, were purchased and the market fleet is now stationed on the spot. New offices on the Quay Were: acquired last year.
Dissatisfied with " the out-of-date methods of fish handling at Aberdeen, Mr. Fraser, jun., visited Fleetwood in November, 1958, and sought the advice of Mr. Ted Cowell, of Edward Cowell, Ltd., fish merchants, who introduced mechanical handling to Fleetwood fish market many years ago.
As a result, a year later, Mr. Fraser demonstrated to all sections of the fishing industry at Aberdeen how Lister trucks could be employed to advantage. He showed that the trucks would permit the quicker removal of fish from the floor of the market, and how they could be utilized in conjunction with a conveyor belt. He pointed out that the time had come for a change from the present hand-truck and cargo-hook methods of fish ha ndling.
Lister trucks had been in successful use at Fleetwood for many years under more congested conditions than those prevailing at Aberdeen. In Scotland there had been vast improvements in trawling and fish-house techniques, but fish handling had, until then, lagged behind. The project had the support of the Aberdeen Fish Curers and Merchants Association and the views of the town council are now awaited.
Quicker Loading
Fraser's employ 12 loaders at the market, and much of their work could be lightened and speeded-up by mechanization. Up to 3,000 cases of unsold fish have to be handled in a day and they have to be dragged some 50 ft. before loading. Mr. Fraser has considered the construction of 15-ft. lengths of conveyor in light-alloy, which could be carried on a spare trailer, unloaded and assembled by two men, who would then be able to load at greater speed.
The company have already purchased one Lister truck with an elevating platform. Fish and offal for the fish-meal factories is carried in 45-gal. drums, which weigh 3 cwt. each. These were too heavy for loaders to lift on and off the vehicles and formerly boxes of fish had to be thrown on to the lorries to be emptied into the drums. Now the Lister truck lifts six drums at a time to platform height, where they can be slid on to the lorries with comparative ease.
For, the last few months, Fraser's have been experimenting with radio communication to certain of their vehicles, using equipment supplied by the Pye Telecommunication Service. A pilot scheme has been put into operation which links the Quay office with four local vehicles and the car of Mr. Fraser, jun., over a radius of five miles.
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A monitor radio is shortly to be installed in the new garage to give the foreman direct control over drivers. Results so far have proved satisfactory, and it is confidently expected that much empty running will be eliminated.
Careful Attention
The company have about 70 employees, five of whom are regularly engaged on vehicle maintenance. Fish vehicles require particularly careful attention and a great deal of washing down. ft has not been found profitable to strip and rebuild vehicles and after an average life of five to six years they are replaced.
Bodybuilding is carried out by the company and it has been found that a good wooden floor of tongued and grooved boards, with galvanized sheeting over the chassis beneath, is excellent for their fish work. Metal bodies can be dangerously slippery for the men in frosty weather, and if the metal becomes torn it causes damage to bags and other flimsy materials.
When drums are carried, however, metal sheeting wears better. Special attention is paid to the needs of drivers, and all new vehicles have heated cabs.
The fish trade has its peaks, particularly in the herring season, and although the summer is normally the busiest time, heavy calls are made on vehicles throughout the year. A great deal of fish is brought from the Orkney and Shetland Islands to Aberdeen, because better prices can be obtained there than at Lerwick. Boats of the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Co., dock three times weekly at Aberdeen-and Fraser's handle 75 per cent, of their fish. As many as 23 vehicles at a time may be required if the landings are large.
Local general haulage includes 700 tons of coal each week from the docks to the Donside Paper Mills three miles away. One day and 10 tippers are devoted to .this task. This coal was formerly carried by rail, but transport was found to be cheaper by sea and road.
Prominent R.H.A. Member
Mr. Fraser, jun., has been a prominent committee member of the Northern Scottish Area of the Road Haulage Association in post-war years and is the present vice-chairman. The enthusiasm and energy of the committee have resulted in an excellent spirit among local hauliers, and there is little trouble over rates. Any difficulty is confined to long-distance work.
A cirte"-film record of the company's activities is being compiled by Mr. Fraser. Mainly for his own use and for display to customers, it is already 2,000 ft. long.
The history of this company is a reminder that, whatever the sphere, drive and energy, coupled with a modern outlook and a willingness to experiment, are a sure road to success.