68 Part III. — Twenty -fifth Annual Report 



good fishing reported. The aggregate for the year was 33,572 crans, thus 

 apportioned : — 



To end May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec, 

 1,7GG 2,363 8,672 5,799 925 9,654 4,393 — 



In 1885 the aggregate was 36,842 crans, of which 2363 crans wore 

 caught before 31st May, time and place unspecified. In June the fisliing 

 extended from Campbeltown to Skipness, the seiners, as usual, working 

 mostly in the upper waters, which are narrow, and the drifters in the 

 lower reaches and near Campbeltown. In July the fishing was chiefly 

 between Skipness and Saddell, and on the Arran side in Machrie Bay 

 and between Pirnmill and Brown Head, towards Pladda. In August, 

 on the west side of the Sound, it was mainly between Skipness and Isle 

 Ross, and on the Arran side at Blackwater and Machrie Bay ; in Sep- 

 tember it was chiefly from Skipness to Saddell, but also to the south end 

 of Arran ; in October it was on both sides of the Sound, especially about 

 Carradale and Machrie Bay, and the herrings were said to be of prime 

 quality. Towards the end of the month the beat catches were got in the 

 lower reaches and at Carradale, and the fishing closed on 24th October. 

 Trials made after that were unsuccessful. The quantities in the various 

 months were : — 



To end May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 2,363 2,528 7,839 6,279 8,922 8,911 — — 



Up to 31st May, 1886, 4607 crans were landed. It is recorded that 

 the "spread" of herrings was sometimes very great over Kilbrennan 

 Sound, and that the chief fishing places were the entrance to Campbel- 

 town Loch, near the Isle Ross, and Carradale, and " latterly" about Skip- 

 ness. The fishing was chiefly in April. The fishing in June was about 

 Carradale and Isle Ross and near Campbeltown ; in July about 

 Campbeltown, the lower reaches of the Sound, south of Arran, near 

 Carradale, and Cour ; in August all over the Sound on both sides ; in 

 September mostly in Carradale and Machrie Bay. In the earlier part of 

 October herrings were taken in the upper parts of the Sound, near 

 Crossaig and Cour, between Campbeltown and Arran, Machrie Bay, and 

 also near Pladda ; at the end of the month mostly about Carradale and 

 Campbeltown and south of Arran ; in November the fishing was 

 near Carradale and in Machrie Bay, also off Davaar Island and on the 

 south-west coast of Arran. In December it was mainly about Carradale 

 and from Carradale to Saddell and Machrie Bay, and the season closed 

 on 18th December. The total for the year was 29,318 crans, apportioned 

 as follows : — 



To end May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 4,607 2,075 2,684 4,319 2,684 2,045 3,114 7,790 



In the closing week 5350 crans were landed, taken between Saddell and 

 Isle Ross and in Machrie Bay, and the quality of the herrings was 

 superior. 



In 1887 the aggregate amounted to 43,535 crans, of which 6210 crans 

 were taken before the end of May. In the Ofiicer's published report* 

 it is said that fishing took place in every month of the year, and that 



* Fifth Annual Report, Part I., p. xlviii. 



