138 WEST COAST FISHERIES. 



and the expanse of water across by the Hawes Bank may be 

 looked upon as the Outer Hebridean fishing grounds, separated 

 from those of Mull by the islands of Coll and Tiree. The 

 absence of harbour accommodation, and the exposed situation 

 of these latter islands, prevent their inhabitants from taking 

 advantage of the waters about them. With Barra it is very- 

 different. There the harbours are of the very best. Castle 

 Bay can accommodate 700 large fishing boats with ease in the 

 herring season ; and in North Bay, on the Sound of Ban-a, a 

 splendid fleet could be accommodated. The harbours are also 

 secured from all winds by the neighbouring islands closing 

 them in, and being open both to the west and east, the boats 

 can take advantage of the prevailing wind to fish the least 

 turbulent sea. These facilities have had a most beneficial 

 effect in stimulating a great herring fishery, and the generosity 

 and public spirit of the proprietress, Lady Gordon Cathcart, 

 has still further supported the efforts of the curers, by building 

 steamboat piers and hotels on this and the neighbouring islands. 

 But the greatest stimuli to the Barra fisheries and industries 

 has been the establishment, by the Highland Fisheries 

 Company, Limited, of a mail route from Oban amongst 

 these outer islands, and the construction of a telegraph, sup- 

 ported by subsidies from Lady Cathcart and the Scotch Fishery 

 Board. Since the establishment of the mail service, less than 

 two years ago. Castle Bay has begun to assume the appearance 

 of a neat village, and there is every evidence that communica- 

 tion has meant to it civilisation and progress. So far as the 

 herring fishing goes, with the many accompanying steamers 

 during the six weeks of its continuance, the mail route has 

 influenced it mainly in creating a fresh-fish trade with the 

 south. But with other industries it has meant their virtual 

 creation. The cockle trade has reached important dimensions, 

 in spite of the long and costly carriage to the English markets. 

 The lobster trade, with increased opportunities for despatch, has 

 been greatly stimulated, and altogether the immense advan- 

 tages of being in touch with the great centres is felt through- 

 out the island, and points to what may be done with every 

 prominent island in the West Highlands. The agriculture of 

 Barra is not worth considering in presence of its fisheries, in 

 which the whole population could readily find profitable em- 

 ployment. 



The shores of Barra are quite distinct in many respects from 

 those of Mull ; and the fauna, with a certain resemblance, is at 

 the same time different. Thus, perhaps, the immediate cause 

 of the variation lies in the fact that, whereas one has to go for 

 miles off Barra ere any considerable depth is obtained, and the 

 immediate vicinity of its shores is comparatively shallow, a 



