20 THE HERRING FISHERIES. 



of March, or, at least, not more than five days altogether, 

 the total catch was "32,000 baskets," and to despatch the 

 fresh herring, 500 railway trucks were linked on to a series 

 of special trains. This is only for one week, and brings us 

 already into the spring fishery, although we have yet to 

 refer to the winter fishery. More than fifty carts were 

 employed in taking the fish to the railway stations. 



Some idea of the inconveniences resulting to our fisher- 

 men through a felt want of proper harbour accommodation 

 may be gathered from this district. 



Owing to the unsuitability for fishermen landing in this 

 harbour they land on the beach, and when a heavy surf is 

 rolling, this is, of course, impossible. To the credit of a 

 few gentlemen interested in the fishermen's welfare, a 

 machine or engine was constructed by which the boats are 

 now drawn on to the landing-stage in safety. Notwith- 

 standing these humane agencies, loss of life and property 

 is frequent, and at the close of this week which we have 

 just recorded, two Ardrishaig boats, while deeply loaded 

 and returning from the Ballantrae banks to Girvan, ran on 

 to the " Whelk rocks," a very dangerous reef that ought to 

 be marked by a cage-beacon ; we are sorry to add that 

 three of the crews lost their lives, and only at some risk 

 the rest were saved. 



A cruising steamer with an officer from the Fishery 

 Board does good service here by keeping a free course on 

 the grounds where smacks anchor and cause obstruction. 



The west coast herring make splendid kippers, and the 

 produce of this class of cured fish comes from the Storno- 

 way district ; their fishery ends in November. 



Messrs. James Methven and Company, Leith, used to 

 take the responsibility of forwarding the kippers and cured 

 fish to foreign ports, but, finding this too heavy for 



