66 Part III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



drifters fished near Campbeltown. In July the fishing was also all over 

 the Sound, there being a great " spread " of herrings, and drifters were 

 more successful than seiners. The quality of the herrings, it was said, 

 was better than for years. In August the quality of the herrings was 

 " splendid," and no better fish were ever seen in tne district. During 

 this month and in September and October the Rshing was still all over 

 the Sound. On 1st November the Sound is described as still teeming 

 with herrings, and boats came in great numbers from other districts. On 

 13th November it is reported that the fishing was between Campbeltown 

 and Carradale, and that herrings were very abundant in the vicinity of 

 Campbeltown. In the following week herrings were got in Campbeltown 

 Loch and in Carradale Bay, and also between Arran and Kintyre. At the 

 end of November the fishing fell off, but herrings continued to be caught 

 near Campbeltown and Carradale till the second week in December, when 

 the fishing closed. The quantities taken in each month, as far as 

 recorded, were as follows : — 



In 1880 the spring fishing up to 22nd May yielded 5090 crans. The 

 Officer states that the first herrings were got on 24th February ; very 

 few were landed in March ; April was better ; and in May, especially 

 about the middle of it, the fishing was unprecedentedly successful. 

 Nothing is said as to where the herrings were captured. In June and 

 July the herrings were taken in the Sound between Campbeltown and 

 Skipness, drifters and seiners being equally successful. On August 7th 

 the Sound was described as swarming with herrings ; in September the 

 fishing fell off, the grounds still being from Campbeltown to Skipness, 

 and towards the end of the month chiefly near Carradale apparently. In 

 October the grounds continued the same, but drifters were less successful, 

 as the herrings lay deeper, and the buoy ropes had to be let down from 

 12 to 20 fathoms before any herrings were secured. In November the 

 fishing was all over Kilbrennan Sound ; at the beginning of December it 

 was chiefly about Carradale and the vicinity of Isle Ross ; in the 

 second week, chiefly about Clonaig, Crossaig, and Skipness, in the upper 

 reaches of the Sound ; in the week ended 18th it was mainly about 

 Carradale and Isle Ross, and in the next week between Campbeltown 

 and the south end of Arran ; while a good " appearance " was still 

 reported in Kilbrennan Sound. The total for the year amounted to 

 37,520 crans, apportioned as follows : — 



24 Feb.-29 May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 5,120 2,330 12,073 5,426 2,579 2,584 2,625 4,783 



In 1881 the aggregate for the year fell to 20,393 crans. The quantity 

 taken up to the end of May was 1280 crans ; no particulars are given as 

 to the months or the place of capture. In June most herrings were got 

 in the lower part of the Sound, but the fishing went on also between 

 Carradale and Skipness ; 2345 crans were landed at Campbeltown and 

 886 at Carradale, while in June, 1S80, 1232 crans were landed at 

 Campbeltown and 1098 at Carradale. In July the grounds were 

 chiefly on the west side of the Sound, towards Campbeltown 

 and about Carradale ; at the end of August principally about Skipness. 

 The fishing fell ofi" in September, and continued ligtit till the end of 

 October. In November the herrings were secured in the upper reaches 



