234 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



new construction and ordinary repairs. Three motor boats were launched, 

 and an order has been placed for another. 



Fortunately, no lives were lost in connection with the district fisheries, 

 and damage to netting and other gear, although greater than in 1912, was of 

 little moment. 



There were no classes in the district for the technical instruction of 

 fishermen. 



The barometer at Tarbert got damaged early in the year and was 

 replaced by a new one by the Meteorological Society. 



Daily records were kept and forwarded to London every month. 



Robert Spink, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Tarbert, 6th January 1914. 



Rothesay District. 



The total quantity and value of fish landed in Rothesay district during 

 the year 1913 were 18,581 cwts. and £8103 respectively, a shortage of 3780 

 cwts. and £1473 when compared with the returns for the previous year. 



A decrease in the quantity and value of herrings was mainly responsible 

 for the deficiency, although almost every kind of fish contributed to this 

 result. 



The only marked improvement was in the quantity of mackerel landed. 



The steady annual decline which for some time past has been noticeable 

 in the means of capture returns continued throughout the year under 

 review, and as fishermen appear to be taking less interest in the fisheries, 

 it is apparent that the limit in this direction has not yet been reached. 



There were 11 fewer boats on the register at the close of the year, 

 while the number of fishermen decreased by 15. 



While other districts were steadily adding to their motor fleets, 

 Rothesay district remained stationary, no motors being fitted into either 

 old or new boats. 



During the first quarter of the year, a few crews prosecuting the herring 

 fishing in Loch Striven and the Kyles of Bute landed 411 crans. The 

 herrings were of poor quality, and realised an average price of only 12s. 6d. 

 per cran. 



The summer herring fishing commenced, as usual, about the beginning 

 of June, and was carried on with more or less disappointing results until 

 the close of the year. Throughout the season the number of boats en- 

 gaged fluctuated considerably, and at certain periods only a very limited 

 fleet was at work. 



From the middle of June until the end of August the weekly returns 

 compared very favourably with those for the corresponding period in 

 1912, but the subsequent landings amounted to only 500 crans, and the 

 season finished with a total of 3057 crans valued at £5317, as compared 

 with 4554 crans and £6626 for the previous season. 



To the catch, drift-nets contributed 274 crans valued at £748. 



The quality of the herrings was generally very satisfactory and the 

 average price realised was 34s. 9d. per cran, compared with 28s. lid. per 

 cran in 1912. 



The number of barrels of herrings cured gutted was very similar to 

 that of the previous year, but the quantity kippered showed a reduction of 

 20 per cent. Neither is of much importance in this district, however. 



