222 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



liowever, and the fleet dispersed for other districts towards the end of 

 Mjiy. Local boats, as well as a few sailers from other ports, continued 

 fishing, but with poor success, up to the 16th of August, by which time 

 local boats only were left. By the 20th of December 100 steam drifters 

 had again assembled, and the fishing was prosecuted up to the end of the 

 year with fair success. The catch from 1st April to 31st December was 

 45,068 crans, valued at £82,888, as compared with 64,342 crans, valued 

 at £94,642 for the corresponding period in 1912. The average price per 

 cran Avas 32s. 4d., as against 29s. Id. for the corresponding period of 

 the preceding year. 



The cod and ling returns exhibit a considerable shortage as compared 

 with 1912, fewer boats having been engaged in line fishing at the out- 

 stations and creeks, where formerly considerable quantities were cured 

 dried for sale. Line fishing by local boats for curing purposes is on the 

 decline. Trawlers and steam liners have now almost discontinued landing 

 any of their catches at this station, although many occasionally come to 

 anchor in the harbour. 



Small-line fishing was occasionally prosecuted by local craft, but the 

 catches were consumed locally, few, if any, being dispatched to the 

 southern markets in a fresh, or smoked, state. Small quantities were, 

 however, sometimes smoked at Stornoway, chiefly for local use. 



Considerable quantities of mackerel were landed during the year by 

 boats engaged in herring fishing, and 1000 barrels were cured for America, 

 the fish being purchased at about 5s. per cran. Even at this figure curers 

 had to discontinue curing them, owing to unsatisfactory returns from the 

 American markets. Hundreds of crans had to be put overboard in, and 

 outside, the harbour, from June to August, but during the early part of 

 thd year, and towards the end of December, there was a fair demand, and 

 small quantities were dispatched in a fresh state to the southern markets . 

 The average price per cran was 10s. 6d., as against 7s. 6d. in 1912. 



The shell-fish returns show a slight increase in value, although the 

 catch of lobsters was less than in 1912. 



Alexr. Sutherland, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Stornoway, 10th January 1914. 



Barra District. 



The very considerable increase in the aggregate results of the fisheries 

 for the year 1913 is due especially to the herring fishing, which shows an 

 increase of 61,531 cwts. in quantity and £45,985 in value over the returns 

 for the previous year. The total quantity and value of all fish landed 

 (exclusive of shell-fish) amounted to 130,703 cwts. and £81,098, compared 

 with 80,999 cwts. and £37,831 in the preceding year. The shell- fisheries 

 reaUsed £6848, an increase of 8 per cent, on the previous year's figures. 



In the means of capture a slight increase in the number of second and 

 third class boats was recorded. The extent and value of fishing gear 

 remain much the same as in the previous year. There is no sign of any 

 attempt being made to introduce steam or motor power vessels into the 

 district, and out of a total of 303 boats only one is installed with auxihary 

 motor power. The advantages of the power vessel over the ordinary sail 

 boat are well appreciated by the native fishermen. 



The great-line fishing, which is only participated in by the district fisher- 

 men, was a complete failure. During the greater part of the season ex- 



