ST. KILDA 149 



these islands, as the result of a very successful season's 

 fishing. On this subject Mr. John Paterson has favoured me 

 with a communication from Mr. Mac Iver, of Stornoway, 

 who, being a very large herring-merchant, is an authority 

 on such matters, and whose experience is that " there are 

 any number of trawlers working off those grounds," i.e., the 

 west Hebridean coast, and vicinity of St. Kilda and the 

 Flannan Islands. In his opinion "it is splendid ground for 

 trawlers, and they almost every day of the year frequent 

 the place," landing their fish for the most part at Aberdeen, 

 Hull, and Grimsby, and a few at Castlebay. 



The presence of a plenitude of fish is further confirmed 

 by inquiries made of the Fishery Board (Edinburgh), 

 where, by the courtesy of the secretary, I have been enabled 

 to elicite a few particulars as to tlie quantity of herrings 

 taken by Scotch boats only, in St. Kildian waters, and 

 to the west of the Hebrides : — 



In 1904 about 800,000 herrings were brought to port. 



., 1905 „ 3,500,000 



.. 1906 ,, 1,800,000 



„ 1907 „ 100,000 

 Haddocks are also very abundant, and the l)()ats bring in 

 large quantities, as well as many other fish. 



Now it is undeniable that all this abundance of fish is a 

 proof beyond gainsay that fish and sea-birds can exist and 



