1 



of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



¥91 



yttj 



An examination of the curve (PI. II.) shows, moreover, that the recent 

 period of depression closely resembles that which began in 1871, the 

 years 1872-1874 being very similar, both in regard to absolute 

 quantities of the herrings caught and in relation to one another, to the 

 years 1904-1906. It will also be seeu tbat in the various periods there 

 are never more than two very bad years in succession, viz., 1873-1874, 

 1886-1887, 1895-1896. Judging, therefore, from all these circumstances, 

 it may with some probability be inferred that the catch in 1907 will be 

 higher than in 1906, though likely still under the average.* 



In order to be able to compare the extent of the annual fluctuations in 

 the yield of herrings in Loch Fyne with the fluctuations on other parts of 

 the coast, I have had tables prepared showing for the period for which 

 statistics are available, 1889-1906, the annual yield and the percentage 

 above and below the mean catch for two East Coast districts, Anstruther 

 and Peterhead, Loch Carrou, and for the whole Clyde, the whole of the 

 West Coast, and the whole of the East Coast. 



Table showing the Total Quantity of Herrings Caught (in Crans) per year 

 from 1889 to 1906, and the Percentage above or below the average 

 catch for the period given. 



*The catch in Lochfyne during the present season (1907) is considerably above the 

 catch in 1905 and 1906, as shown by the following figures (crans) for corresponding 

 dates : — 



1903. 



(17th Oct.) 



20,415 



1904. 



(22nd Oct.) 



7633 



1905. 



(21st Oct.) 



3324 



1906. 



(20th Oct.) 



4953 



1907. 



(19th Oct.) 



13,348 



[Table. 



