Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xxxv 



Montrose District. 



From the north side of Tay to Bervie, both inclusive. Boundary of 



District. 



District Fishery Office — Montrose. 



Montrose district had 110 boats engaged in the summer herring Summer Fish- 

 fishery of 1886, as compared with 107 in 1885, of which 106 be- l^ s ™f d Boat * 

 longed to Scotland and 4 to P^ngland. Of these, 41 were stationed 

 at Gourdon, 12 at Johnshaven, 42 at Montrose, 13 at Arbroath, and 

 2 at Broughty Ferry and Dundee. A few crews began to fish in Duration of 

 the course of July, and at the end of that month the industry Season< 

 became general. The season closed on 4th September, and proved 

 a successful one. The heaviest fishing was landed in the week 

 ending 7th August, when the high average of about 95 crans per Fishing 

 boat was got. During that week numerous takes, ranging from 75 successfuL 

 to upwards of 100 crans, were caught. One boat, fishing from 

 Gourdon, landed a take of 127 crans from a portion of its nets. The Particulars 

 remainder of them, in which were got upwards of 40 crans, it handed thereof - 

 over to another boat. In the four succeeding weeks the average 

 takes were 33, 50 J, 19|, and 6 crans per boat respectively. During 

 the season, owing to the weight of herrings which they meshed, 

 nets valued at £1800 were lost. The total catch was 23,918 crans, Total Catch, 

 and the average per boat 217J crans, as compared with a total catch 

 of 16,809 crans and an average of 148 J crans, in 1885. The highest 

 aggregate catch of any one boat was 318 crans, and the lowest 

 40J crans. The fish were generally caught on grounds lying from Fishing 

 5 to 33 miles from land, the best waters being between Arbroath Grounds - 

 and Montrose, and Gourdon and Stonehaven. The total averages Average Catch 

 per boat at the several curing stations were — Gourdon, crans ; per Boat " 

 Johnshaven, 208 ; Montrose, 216 ; Arbroath, 243 ; and Broughty 

 Ferry and Dundee, 206 J crans. The herrings generally were of 

 better quality than in 1885, especially the maties, which were much 

 larger and stronger. 



The winter and spring herring fishing of the district was more winter Fish- 

 than usually successful, and the herrings were of excellent quality. ing successful - 

 The total catch was 3533 crans, as compared with 265 crans in 

 1885. 



Stonehaven District. 



From Bervie, exclusive, to Skateraw, inclusive. Boundary of 



District. 



District Fishery Office — Stonehaven. 



Stonehaven district had a fleet of 82 boats employed in 1886 — of Fleet of 82 

 which 72 belonged to Kincardine and Fife, and 10 to Cornwall — as Loats * 

 compared with 91 boats in 1885. The summer herring fishing began Duration of 

 on 12th July, and was continued until 4th September, when it was 

 brought to a close in terms of a general concurrence of opinion 

 between the fishermen and curers. The season produced 16,000 crans. its Produce. 

 During the first week the catch was light. Afterwards the weekly Particulars of 

 averages per boat were 13J, 5J, 70, 41f, 33} , 15}, and 10^ crans re- Fishing - 

 spectively. The average total catch per boat for the season was 195 

 crans, as compared with 181 in 1885. The highest aggregate catch of 

 any one boat was 350 crans, and the lowest 50 crans. The best 



