of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



0 



on the West Coast to about 40 per cent., and at Orkney and Shetland 

 to 53 per cent. In contrast to this was the increase in the quantity 

 of fish landed by trawlers, which is the most outstanding feature in 

 connection with the East Coast fisheries in the period covered by the 

 statistics. On that coast the increase amounted to 193 per cent. ; on 

 the West Coast, where, however, trawling is of very much less 

 importance, the increase was about 1 63 per cent. 



The aggregate value of the shell-fish landed in Scotland in the 

 period from 1883 to 1908 was £1,957,880, or an annual average of 

 £75,300 ; when the first half of the period is compared with the 

 second, an increase in the latter is shown amounting to about 2-8 per 

 cent. On the East Coast there was a decrease of nearly 19 per cent, 

 in the value, while on the West Coast there was an increase of about 

 23 per cent., and at Orkney and Shetland an increase of about 26 per 

 cent. With regard to oysters, there was an increase of about 50 per 

 cent, in quantity and 26 per cent, in value, entirely due to the arti- 

 ficial cultivation of this shell-fish at certain places on the West Coast, 

 and in particular in Loch Eyan. On the East Coast and at Orkney 

 and Shetland there was a large decrease both in numbers and in 

 value. The decrease in mussels amounted for Scotland to 37 per 

 cent, in quantity and 43 per cent, in value ; it was common to all 

 coasts, but most marked on the East Coast, and it is to be attributed 

 chiefly to the decline in line-fishing. Among lobsters there was an 

 increase of 3*1 per cent, in numbers and 15*6 per cent, in value, due 

 to increases on the West Coast and at Orkney ; while among crabs 

 there was a minute decrease in numbers and a slight increase in value. 

 The percentages of the quantities landed on each coast in the two 

 periods are shown as follows : — 





East Coast. 



West Coast. 



Orkney & Shetland. 



1883-1895 



1896-1908 



1883-1895 



1896-1908 



1883-1895 



1896-1908 



Oysters 



20-7 



2-7 



78-1 



971 



LI 



01 



Mussels 



691 



63 4 



291 



34-7 



1-6 



17 



Lobsters ... 



152 



14-3 



72-0 



706 



127 



151 



Crabs 



95-0 



941 



45 



51 



0 5 



0-8 



Appended to the paper are numerous Tables giving details as to the 

 quantities and values of the various fishes and shell-fishes landed in 

 each year throughout the period, with similar information regarding 

 the shell-fish landed on the English coasts. 



Investigations on the Herring Fishery of the 

 Firth of Clyde. 



Since the latter part of 1904 investigations have been carried on 

 with reference to the herring fishery in the Clyde, and especially in 

 Loch Fyne, as far as means allowed. It is to be regretted that the 

 failure of the herrings to come into Loch Fyne in recent years in 

 what may be termed their normal abundance still continues. The 

 figures showing the result of the fishing in Loch Fyne since 1900 are 

 as follows : — 



