of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



229 



ceptionally stormy weather was experienced, with the result that the boats 

 were at sea on few occasions. When the boats were able to be at sea 

 results were very unsatisfactory, fish being scarce on the grounds, which 

 lay from 3 to 7 miles east to south-east from the Island of Muldoanich and 

 Pabby Bank. The average gross earnings derived from this fishing were 

 only £27 per boat, as against £113 per boat for the season of 1912. 



The herring fishing commenced on the 13th May and was prosecuted 

 with considerable success until towards the end of August. The larger 

 proportion of the fleet employed consisted of sail boats. During the early 

 part of the season weather conditions were favourable, and the fleet was 

 able to prosecute the fishing with regularity. During the months of July 

 and August unfavourable weather was experienced, and the sail drifters 

 were for the greater part of this period lying in port. The most productive 

 fishing grounds were Gunna Sound, Coll Bank, and the vicinity of Heisker, 

 Canna. The inshore grounds on the east side of Barra were unproductive. 

 The Atlantic grounds on the west side of Barra, which in past years were 

 the principal herring fishing grounds in this district, were unfrequented. 

 In the latter part of May and the first half of June dense shoals of herring 

 were located in Gunna Sound, and many splendid shots of fair quality were 

 secured. The demand throughout the season was very good, prices 

 ranging from 25s. to 91s. per cran, with an average for the season of 49s. 

 per cran. The advantage which mechanical power in fishing vessels 

 confers in rendering access to the most productive fishing grounds more 

 certain was fully demonstrated throughout the whole season. On one 

 occasion, for instance, several sail boats which reached the distant fishing 

 grounds secured shots ranging from 120 to 180 crans. A number of these 

 boats, owing to light and contrary winds, were unable to make the port until 

 the following morning, when their fish, owing to the summer heat, were 

 almost useless, with the result that the fishermen had to accept from 3s. to 

 5s. per cran, whereas if the fish had been landed in good time on the day of 

 capture they would have realised anything from 70s. to 80s. per cran. 



The earnings of the fishermen belonging to the district were among the 

 lowest on record. The local fleet, with the exception of one auxiliary 

 motor boat, consists chiefly of medium-sized sail boats, and the majority of 

 these boats being unable to prosecute the herring fishing on the mainland 

 side of the Minch, where practically all the fish were secured, have, in conse- 

 quence, fared very badly. The highest individual gross earnings of these 

 boats amounted to £460, and the lowest £32. The average gross earnings 

 for the year were only £101, as compared with £280 in 1912. The local 

 motor boat grossed £540, as against £497 in the previous year. The gross 

 earnings of East Coast boats ranged from £510 to £1525 for steam drifters^ 

 £460 to £728 for auxihary motor boats, and £246 to £715 for sail boats. 

 The season was the most successful financially ever experienced in Barra 

 by East Coast fishermen. Out of an aggregate total of £79,340 derived 

 from herring fishing only £8460 was earned by local fishermen. 



The shell- fisheries form a source of regular employment for 170 fisher- 

 men and boys. In the spring months unsettled weather hindered opera- 

 tions, and little was done. During the summer months, however, weather 

 conditions were on the whole favourable, and a regular fishing was carried 

 on, with the result that the season's total value shows an increase of 8 per 

 cent, over the previous year's figures. The gathering of unclassified shell- 

 fish was carried on in the spring months with favourable results. 



The year under review was a most unremunerative one for the district 

 fishermen. Although the total value of fish landed greatly exceeded the 

 previous year's figures, a very poor proportion was secured by local boats. 

 The aggregate gross earnings of local fishermen from the various branches 

 of the fisheries was only £16,600. Of this amount the herring fishing is 



