74 Part III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



the fishing was also in the Sound, and probably during the rest of the 

 month. On October 7th it was reported that there was a good "ap- 

 pearance" in the Sound; on 14th the fishing was best at Machrie Bay, 

 and nothing was caught from this date until 17th November, chiefly, it 

 would appear, from bad weather ; the place of fishing is not mentioned. 

 In the week ended 25th November heavy catches were secured close in 

 on the Kintyre coast, and the shoal extended from Kildalloig Bay 

 (immediately to the south of Davaar island) to Isle Ross, about four miles 

 north of Davaar. At the beginning of December there was a good 

 " appearance " about two miles north of Davaar ; stormy weather came 

 on, and trials made in the middle of the month were blank ; it was 

 believed the herrings had gone into deep water. On 23rd December a 

 good " appearance " was reported between Carradale and Skipness, and 

 in the last week of the year 178 crans were taken off Brown Head, 

 Arran. The aggre:iate for the year was 31,898 crans, thvis apportioned: — 



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

 4,120 4,259 6,049 6,939 6,135 1,488 2,717 191 



The quantity caught up to the end of May, 1900, was 3994 crans. 

 In June the fishing was in Kilbrennan Sound, and best between 

 Carradale and Machrie Bay, and close inshore between Carradale and 

 Campbeltown. In July it was between Saddell and Clonaig, and near 

 Carradale; in August (when over 11,000 crans were landed) it was in 

 the first week chiefly at Machrie Bay and near Saddell, then on the 

 Arran shore between Machrie Bay and Pladda, and then in the 

 vicinity of Skii)ness, Machrie Bay, and Carradale. In September the 

 fishing was general over the Sound, best takes being got near Carradale, 

 off Cour, and between Carradale and Pirnmill. In October the fishing 

 was mostly in Machrie Bay and near it, and the herrings were said, 

 towards the end of the month, to be gradually moving southwards. 

 Very little was taken in November, though the weather was usually 

 favourable for fishing; most were secured near the end of the month, 

 close into the shore about four miles north of Campbeltown. It was 

 then reported that there was a " splendid appearance " of herrings from 

 Carradale to Campbeltown, but the weather in December was mostly 

 boisterous, and those taken were secured in the week ended 8th, locality 

 not mentioned, but it is said the herrings were making for the spawning 

 ground ofT Brown Head, Arran, and that the milt and roe were very 

 ripe. The total for the year was 40,557 crans, as follows: — 



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

 3,994 4,297 6,962 11,355 8,896 4,101 610 342 



The fiehing in the early months of 1891 was apparently good, for the 

 quantity landed up to 31st May was 6097 crans. In June the grounds 

 were, in the first week, on the Arran shore between Pirnmill and Machrie 

 Bay, and in the last week near Cour, about midway between Carradale 

 and Skipness. In July the fishing was between Carradale and Campbel- 

 town, and on the Arran side, especially in Machrie Bay. In August it 

 was in various places in Kilbrannan Sound, as Machrie Bay and near 

 Carradale. In September, when 3241 crans were taken, there is no 

 information ; in the first week of October 864 crans were landed, after 

 which the fishing fell off, the boats failing to get herrings ; very 

 little was got in the first part of November (at Clonaig and Carradale), 

 but towards the end of the month some good takes were secured in 



