332 



dkep-sp:a fishing. 



they ai^e ripe, spawning must take place wherever the 

 fish may happen to be at the time. But, althougli 

 there are a very few pLaces around our coasts which 

 are or were known to be spawning grounds, we are in 

 complete ignorance of where that process takes place 

 with most of the herrings, and whether it is not as 

 often far out at sea as it is near the land. 



The boats used in the Lochfyne drift-fishery are 

 small cutters or smacks like those we have noticed at 

 Campbelton ; and open skiffs, carrying one lug and 

 a jib, are employed for the other fisheries. 



Lochfyne Fishing Boats. 



The Fishery Board Returns of the herrings cured on 

 the west coast, and particularly at the stations within 

 the districts now under notice, give a very imperfect 

 idea of the actual numbers of fish caught there in 

 recent years. A large and increasing proportion of 

 the annual takes of fish is now sent to the fresh 

 market, and numerous fast steamers are employed in 

 bringing cargoes of herrings to tlie most convenient 



