of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



177 



close of tlie fishing, coopers would find little employment, but the landings 

 in that quarter were remarkably heavy, and the demand for barrels ex- 

 ceptional in consequence. Barrel-making is confined to the East Coast 

 and Stornoway, and notwithstanding the steady employment given to the 

 men, without the aid of machinery — which the ordinary curer finds it 

 necessary to introduce into his workshop — it would be impossible to meet 

 the requirements of the trade. Another important factor which has a 

 great bearing on the output of barrels by hand labour, is that many of the 

 coopers leave the workshop early in May, whereas in former years it was 

 the beginning of July. 



In the early part of the year dense shoals of herrings made their appear- 

 ance in the Minch and West Highland lochs. The success which attended 

 operations may be gauged from the fact that during the months January 

 to March 103,915 crans of herrings were landed at Stornoway. Again 

 from May to December a good fishing was secured. Altogether 148,983 

 crans of herrings were landed at £170,756. Except during the month of 

 April, herrings were caught in the Minch in paying quantities from January 

 to December. The presence of herrings in Loch Bracadale resulted in 

 satisfactory landings of herrings in the districts of Loch Carron and Skye 

 and Fort- William. In January over 30 steamers were employed from 

 Mallaig — which port lies quite near the loch — and remarkable catches were 

 made, one of the vessels having earned in a comparatively short period 

 over £500. The quality of the fish was good, and prices were well main- 

 tained. Owing to a succession of westerly gales neither the local nor 

 stranger craft were able to work with any degree of regularity. 



Although the bulk of the landings in both these districts was made by 

 East Coast crews, many of whom returned home with earnings ranging 

 from £700 to £900, the local fishermen and fishworkers shared in the success 

 in no small degree, with the result that many of the crofter fishermen 

 possessed of old and inferior boats have been enabled to discard these for 

 more powerful craft fitted with auxiliary motor power. Various attempts 

 have been made during the past few years to make Oban a fishing station, 

 but the landings in 1913 were not so satisfactory as those in 1912. 



In the 5 fishery districts of the Clyde area the fishermen employed 

 are mainly dependent on the results of the herring fishing. The less 

 important fishings are great and small fine fishing, cod and flounder net 

 fishing, shrimp trawling, and crab and lobster fishing. 



The total quantity of all kinds of fish landed was 267,773 cwts., valued 

 at £119,784, as against 249,752 cwts., and £99,554 in 1912. Herrings 

 account for 84 per cent, of the total landings and 81 per cent, of the total 

 value. 



The most noticeable feature in connection with the means of capture 

 was the increase in the number of motor boats, and as regards Inveraray 

 district this was the more striking when the unprofitable results of the fishings 

 are considered. Altogether in the three principal districts of the Clyde 

 area 34 boats were fitted with motor engines, and it seems probable that in 

 the near future the herring fleets of Campbeltown and Inveraray will 

 consist almost entirely of boats propelled by motor power. Although the 

 results of the fishing in Inveraray district itself were disappointing, the dis- 

 trict fishermen secured some excellent catches on the Kintyre, Arran, and 

 Ayrshire coasts, and during May and June 10 boats prosecuted the herring 

 fishing at Loch Boisdale, where good earnings were secured. Owing, 

 moreover, to the keen demand and remunerative prices obtained, the 

 financial position of the fishermen was better than for several seasons back. 



Not for many years has the catch of herrings in the Campbeltown 

 district been so successful. In the total landings there is an increase 

 of 18,069 cwts. and £16,202 in value as compared with the previous 



