84 Part III. — Twenty -fifth Annual Report 



crans were secured ; trials later in the month at Minard were blank. In 

 June some were taken in Upper Loch Fyne, and the fishermen reported 

 a good '• appearance " there. In July there is little information, but on 

 22nd it is noted that the herrings are widely spread from a little 

 above Otter Ferry to Skipness and Ardlamont. In August the fishing 

 was all over the lower loch, especially between Tarbert and Skipness ; in 

 September it was chiefly about Ardlamont and Skipness. In October 

 nearly all the herrings were landed at Tarbert ; in the week ended 28th 

 no less than 5300 crans were caught about Skipness, and the quality was 

 good, the number of herrings to a cran ranging between 700 and 900. 

 In November a large body of herrings still remained about the mouth of 

 the loch, most being taken between Skipness and Tarbert, and about 

 Skipness. None were caught in December, the shoal having gone down 

 Kilbrennan Sound. 



In 1877 the aggregate catch fell to 19,618 crans. There was no ap- 

 pearance of herrings in January, and some trials which were made were 

 unsuccessful. In June, when 2614 crans were landed, herrings were got 

 all over the loch, but chiefly between Tarbert and Skipness. In July the 

 fishing was almost entirely in the lower loch, chiefly at the mouth, and it 

 thus continued in August, September, October, and November, most being 

 taken in the vicinity of Skipness. The fishing fell off in November, and 

 no herrings were caught in December. 



In 1878 the aggregate catch fell to 8890 crans. In June the fishing 

 was mostly about the entrance to the upper loch, and a good " appearance " 

 was reported in the lower loch. In July, when most herrings were 

 taken, the fishing was all over the lower loch, and as far up as Minard, 

 and the " appearance " continued good. In August the weather was very 

 fine, but the fishing fell off, and scarcely anything was taken in September 

 and October. In the first week of November trials were made but no 

 herrings taken ; in the next week good takes were got at Skipness, 

 where a large shoal was reported to be ; in the third week the fishing was 

 between Skipness and Tarbert, and later up to Ardiishaig and about 

 Otter Spit, but it fell off, and very little was taken in December. 



From this year until 1882 there was a gradual increase in the quantity 

 of herrings landed. 



In 1879 the aggregate was 21,045 crans. In June and July the 

 fishing was all over the lower loch, and best between Skipness and 

 Tarbert ; at the end of June and in July herrings were also got near 

 Inveraray and at the top of the loch. In the early part of 

 August the fishing was over the upper and lower loch, but the best 

 grounds continued to be about the mouth of the loch between Tarbert and 

 Skipness, where large shoals were seen. Until the early part of November 

 the fishing continued about the mouth and especially near Skipness; later 

 it fell off, and a few crans of very small herrings were got in the upper 

 loch. None were caught in December. 



In 1880 the aggregate was 22,768 crans. In June the grounds were 

 between Skipness and Tarbert and about the entrance to the upper loch, 

 and till the early part of August most of the herrings were got at the 

 former locality, and then also at Ardlamont and between Ardlamont and 

 Tarbert. During the rest of the season the fishing was towards the 

 mouth of the loch, particularly between Tarbert and Skipness, and about 

 Skipness, and the drift-nets were more successful than the seines, which 

 was not the case, the Officer remarks, in the previous few years. In 

 November herrings were caught in considerable quantities between 

 Ardlamont and Skipness, and also between Inverneil and Tarbert ; later 

 at various parts of the lower loch, especially towards Ardrishaig and 



