Fishery Board for Scotland. 



Ixi 



previous year 61. In addition, a large fleet of English trawlers 

 prosecuted the industry off the coasts of Scotland. The trawlers 

 usually delivered their takes at Berwick, Eyemouth, Newhaven, where their 

 Granton, Montrose, Aberdeen, Fraserburgh, and Wick, upon the JeHvered° 

 East Coast ; and at Ayr and Stranraer, on the West Coast. 



The aggregate quantity of white fish landed in Scotland during 1886, Quantity and 

 and sold for consumption fresh, amounted to 1,714,453 cwts., valued JS^iJidla** 6 

 at £685,973, as compared with 1,725,459 cwts., valued at £737,824 and sold fresh 

 in the previous year. Of this total quantity, 1,394,422 cwts. were jggg 85 aml 

 taken on the East Coast; 125,546 cwts. in Orkney and Shetland ; Coasts where 

 and 194,485 cwts. on the West Coast, — showing, as compared with landed. 

 1885, an increase of 62,380 cwts. on the East Coast; an increase of 

 25,175 cwts. in Orkney and Shetland ; and a decrease of 98,561 

 cwts. on the West Coast. The greatest increase of white fish was 

 in haddocks, amounting to 148,852 cwts. This was mainly owing 

 to the large quantity landed by the beam trawl vessels belonging 

 to the ports of Leith, Montrose, and Aberdeen. There was also an 

 increase in saithe, halibut, soles, eels, and in some other kinds of 

 fish. The decrease was chiefly in herrings, sprats, mackerel, cod, 

 ling, whitings, turbot, flounders, and skate. Some particulars will 

 now be given of the quantity and value of the principal kinds of 

 white fish landed. 



Herring. — The quantity of herrings landed last year, and sold for The Herring 

 consumption fresh or lightly salted, amounted to 129,136 crans, Fishery, 

 valued at £83,417, being 10,739 crans less than in 1885. Owing 

 to the low prices which prevailed during the year, the value shows 

 the large decrease of £38,617. The districts which forwarded the 

 largest quantities of herrings to market fresh were Anstruther, 

 Wick, Peterhead, Shetland, and Stornoway. The total quantity 

 these districts sent was 66,611 crans. 



Sprat. — The Sprat fishing of last year yielded 7323 crans, valued The Sprat 

 at £3714, as compared with 22,426 crans in 1885, the value of which Fishery - 

 was £4190. This fishing was prosecuted in the upper reaches of the 

 Firth of Forth, the Firth of Tay, and the Moray Firth, in January, 

 February, November, and December. It proved, however, a com- 

 plete failure during the first two months in the Forth and Tay. 



Mackerel. — The total quantity of mackerel landed last year was The Mackerel 

 2925 cwts., valued at £1893, being a decrease, as compared with Fishery, 

 that of 1885, of 9444 cwts., and of £2102 in value. The fish were 

 principally taken on the West Coast, which yielded 2885 cwts. 

 In Orkney and Shetland only 24 cw T ts. were caught, and on the 

 East Coast 16 cwts. The fishing of mackerel, however, can scarcely 

 be said to be prosecuted in Scotland, aud those landed last year 

 were mostly taken in nets which had been set for herrings. 



Cod. — The quantity of cod sent fresh to market shows a decrease The Cod 

 under that of the previous year. It amounted to 198 093 cwts., Fis W- 

 valued at £84,593, as compared with 201,108 cwts. in 1885, valued 

 at £93,456. Of the gross quantity landed, more than three-fourths 

 were caught on the East Coast. Leith district was the most 

 successful ; but the districts of Buckie, Wick, Anstruther, Aberdeen, 

 and Findhorn also made excellent fishings. On the West Coast 

 the districts which landed the largest quantities were Ballantrae, 

 Stornoway, and Loch Broom. 



