182 BRITISH IND USTRIES. 



for the purpose in 1862, and the Koyal Sea Fisheries 

 Commission also going into the question in 1864, in 

 the course of their general inquiry into the state of 

 all our sea fisheries. Both Commissions were most 

 decided in condemning the prohibition of " trawling " 

 for herrings ; and it was shown by the comparison of 

 several series of years, that the fluctuations in the 

 Lochfyne herring fishery had been as great before 

 trawling was introduced as at any subsequent period. 

 By Acts of 1867 and 1868, trawling was again per- 

 mitted, and continues at the present time. 



The three important stations in Lochfyne are In- 

 verary, four miles from its northern extremity, Ardris- 

 haig, about eighteen miles south of it, and Tarbert, ten 

 miles lower down, and six or seven miles from the en- 

 trance to the loch. The total length of Lochfyne is 

 therefore nearly forty miles. Just above Ardrishaig 

 the loch suddenly narrows, and is further contracted at 

 this part by Otter Point, which projects westward for 

 some distance across, and forms the lower boundary of 

 what is called the Upper Loch. This is from one to 

 two miles wide, and the lower loch varies from four 

 to five in width. There is deep water through the 

 entire length, although the depth is irregular, ranging 

 from twenty fathoms in some parts, to as much as one 

 hundred fathoms near the entrance. In some years the 

 herrings go up the loch to its extremity, in others the 

 fishing is almost confined to the neighbourhood of 

 Tarbert. For the last few years the fish have not 

 gone very far up, although good fisheries have been 

 made near the mouth, both by " trawl " and drift net. 



