60 Fart III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Eeport 



In 1902 the fishing commenced on 10th January, when 14 crans were 

 taken at Dunure and Maidens Bay, and during the rest of the month 

 there was a good fishing between Dunure and Turnberry, the total for 

 the month being 3072 crans, and the herrings were caught close in to the 

 shore. In the first part of February the fishing was pursued in the same 

 quarter, and south as far as Girvan, but drifters also caught considerable 

 quantities between Ballantrae and Corsevvall Point. In the week ended 

 22nd February, most of the herrings were got about Bennan Head and 

 the northern end of the protected area, and this was also the case in the 

 following week. The fishing came to an abrupt end on 8th March. The 

 total for the season was 6838 crans, as follows : — 



December. January. February. March. 



— 2,450 3,072 1,316 



It is to be noted that this was the first season in which the bye-law closing 

 the banks to seiners came into force, and this, no doubt, reduced the 

 quantity landed ; but it appears several of the seine boats made hauls 

 within the area. No herrings were landed in the district after September. 

 In 1903 the herrings were caught in Ayr Bay and to Turnberry Point, 

 close inshore, from January 10th to the end of the month and well into 

 February, but a fair fishing was also secured by trammels in Loch Ryan 

 from the end of January to the middle ot February. On 21st February 

 it was reported that there was a good " appearance " of herrings in the 

 vicinity of the spawning banks, but the weather came on stormy, and 

 very little was secured, the herrings leaving on 14th March. The total 

 for the season was 732 crans, thus apportioned : — 



December. January. February. March. 



— 530 177 25 



No herrings were landed in November and December, according to the 

 weekly returns, but at the end of the year 51 crans are added as having 

 been landed between 3rd October and 26th December. 



In 1904 the fishing began in the week ended 16th January, and small 

 quantities of herrings were taken inshore at Dunure and Maidens. 

 Towards the end of the month and in February fair takes were got in 

 Loch Ryan ; on 6th February a good " appearance " was reported on the 

 banks, but little was taken, the total for the season being 875 crans, as 

 follows : — 



December. January. February. March. 



— 92 461 322 



It also appears from a note that 108 crans were landed between 1st 

 October and 31st December this year, but no particulars are given. 



In 1905 there are unfortunately no particulars given as to the course 

 of the fishing. It is only stated at the beginning of the summer fishing 

 that 106 crans had been landed from 1st January to 27th May. There 

 appears also to have been a good fishing towards the end of the year, 

 because a note states that 2881 crans were landed between 1st October 

 and 31st December, but there is no information as to the months 

 otherwise, nor as to the localities where the fishing was carried en. The 

 total for the whole year, including the summer fishing, was 4479 crans. 



The fact mentioned, that there was a good fishing towards the close of 



