224 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



credited with 52 per cent., white fishing 7 per cent., and the shell -fisheries 

 41 per cent. The aggregate earnings in the preceding year were £30,400, 

 the corresponding percentages being 67, 13, and 20 respectively. 



Fishery Office, 

 Castlebay, 5th January 1914. 



A. B. Stephen, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Loch Broom District. 



The results of the fishing operations conducted throughout this district 

 during the past year were again very moderate. Compared with 1912 

 the figures show a welcome increase in the quantity and value of white 

 fish landed of 3521 cwts. and £907 respectively, and of £228 in the value of 

 shell-fish, but when compared with the average yield for the previous ten 

 years they exhibit the large decrease of 45,306 cwts. in quantity and £7217 

 in value, and of £7530 in the total value including shell-fish. The poor 

 results obtained from herring fishing account largely for this decrease, but 

 small-line and hand -line fishing, which were less productive than in former 

 years, contributed considerably to the total decline. 



There is a further shrinkage in the number and tonnage of fishing boats. 

 Seventeen boats were struck off the register, while only 4 second and 3 

 third-class boats were added thereto, making a reduction of 10 boats and 

 97 tons. With the advent of the steam drifter and motor boat there is now 

 less opportunity for the crofter fishermen working with their small boats 

 of 16 to 18 feet keel and benefiting by the visits of herrings to the lochs of 

 the district. They find it difficult and dangerous to use these small boats 

 alongside of the larger craft in the narrow waters of the lochs. No pro- 

 gress can yet be reported in the installation of motor power into existing 

 sail boats in the district. Only one skiff had this means of propulsion in- 

 stalled during the year. Although there are a good number of skiffs suitable 

 for auxiliary motors whose owners could well afford the experiment, there 

 seems no inclination on their part to follow the example of fishermen of 

 other districts who have benefited by the change. 



There is practically no change in the quantity and value of gear in use, 

 the only alteration from the previous year being a slight increase in the 

 area and value of netting, due to the better maintenance of gear by the 

 fishermen with first and second class boats. 



Although herrings were landed in every section of the district and the 

 total landings were better than last year by 5740 cwts. in quantity and 

 £1645 in value, this branch of the fisheries must again be classed as a 

 failure. At Lochclash 300 crans were landed in January and February by 

 steam drifters which could not dispose of their catches at Stornoway, but 

 this station was not used as a fishing centre. A light, irregular fishing was 

 landed in Lochinver section by the local small boats from June to October, 

 but the total catch for this period did not exceed 400 crans. Towards the 

 end of December, however, a shoal of herrings made its appearance in 

 Lochinver, and on the last two days of that month the local boats landed 

 a total of 580 crans. These herrings were of mixed quality, and there 

 being few buyers on the spot, prices were low and ranged from 12s. to 17s. 6d. 

 per cran. 



The Loch Broom herring fishing was again very disappointing. Her- 

 rings made their appearance at the entrance of the loch at the beginning 

 of October, and during the next fortnight a fleet of 40 boats, mostly local, 



