80 Part III. — Tiventy-fifth Annual Report 



the greater proportion of which was taken in the upper loch, and 

 the best months were October and November. Until the end of July 

 the fishing was light, especially in the upper loch ; in the last week of 

 the month the best 6shing was between Inverneil and Skipness. In 

 August it greatly improved both in the lower and the upper loch. In 

 September it continued very productive, especially between Otter and 

 Minard. In October as many as 550 boats were fishing in the upper 

 loch, the best grounds being at the top, off Cairndow, and later from 

 Furnace to Loch Gair. At the end of November there were 660 boats, 

 and the best fivshing was about Minard. During December the fishing 

 was mostly from Minard to Loch Gair, and towards the end of the month 

 also off Inverneil. When the season closed herrings were still abundant 

 in both the upper and the lower loch, but no fishing took place in the 

 early months of 1863, owing to the close time. 



In 1863 the aggregate for Loch Fyne was 22,923 'crans, and the 

 fishing in June was poor. In July it improved, and was chiefly in the 

 lower loch. In August it was much more productive in the upper loch 

 about Inveraray ; in September the fishing was chiefly from Furnace to 

 the head of the loch , in October 530 boats were fishing in the upper 

 loch ; in November the best grounds were at Minard and then Minard 

 to Loch Gair. In the early pari of December good takes were obtained 

 at Inverneil as well as above Otter, but the fishing fell off, and towards 

 the end of the month the herrings were said to have left the loch. 



In 1864 the herrings were chiefly taken in June in the lower loch ; 

 in July the best fishing was between Otter and Maol Dubh (between 

 Tarbert and Ardrishaig) ; in August it greatly improved in the upper 

 loch, and was good there in September, but after this it fell off in the 

 upper loch, and in November and December little was got in Loch Fyne. 

 The total for the year was 12,867 crans. 



The yield from 1865 to 1870 was above the average, 1868 and 1869 

 being the best. 



In 1865 the total was 26,118 crans, of which 5710 crans were secured 

 in the upper loch. In June very little was caught ; in July it improved 

 towards the end of the month, but was still unimportant in the upper 

 loch. In August most of the herrings were got in the lower loch, 

 and the fishing in the upper loch was better ; in September most were 

 taken near Tarbert and Ardrishaig, and 2346 crans in the upper 

 loch , in October the fishing was less successful, the herrings being mostly 

 taken in the neighbourhood of Ardlamont ; in November little was 

 caught in the upper loch, those landed being chiefly got about Ard- 

 lamont. Towards the end of November the fishing fell off, and most 

 of the boats went to the Kyles of Bute ; in December very little was 

 caught. 



In 1866 the aggregate was 28,360 crans, of which 5580 were taken 

 in Upper Loch Fyne. In June very little was caught, and chiefly about 

 Otter. In July 45 crans were taken above Otter, after which the 

 fishing improved in the upper loch, but throughout the year most were 

 caught in the lower loch, the places not specified. 



In 1867 the aggregate catch was 34,415 crans, of which 6593 crans 

 Avere taken in the upper loch. In January 85 crans were got at Minard. 

 In June the fishing was light; in August, when 13,456 crans were 

 landed, most were got in the lower loch, the chief grounds being from 

 Tarbert to Otter Spit, and 2542 crans were taken in the upper loch ; in 

 September most were taken in the lower loch, and also in October. In 

 November most of the herrings were secured between Furnace and Loch 

 Gair and Otter. In December the shoal moved farther down and good 



