434 



Appendices to Fifth Annual Report. 



The herrings caught by the seine-net at the Ballantrae fishing from 

 1878 downwards to 1884 were the largest, and commanded the highest 

 price. Since 1884 the herrings have deteriorated in size, and this year 

 nearly half of the catch landed by the seine-net fishermen was com- 

 posed of small unmarketable herrings, a large proportion of which were 

 used for manure. 



Enemies of the Herring. — But there are other reapers of the sea besides 

 fishermen. Cod, saith, and other fishes which follow the herring shoal con- 

 sume immense numbers. From 10 to 20 herrings, more or less complete, 

 are frequently taken from the stomach of the cod when caught on the 

 herring ground ; but a still greater destruction takes place when the cod 

 and saith feed on the herring spawn. In March 1886 one cod stomach, 

 taken from amongst others, contained no less than 24 ounces of herring 

 spawn. 



Whales and Porpoises on the Banks. — The banks are at times the scene 

 of lively interest when visited by a shoal of whales. On a recent occasion, 

 as the sun was setting, a shoal of at least forty whales in pairs and a 

 number of porpoises began to play, and went circling round the margin of 

 the bank displaying their huge fins and arched backs, gracefully plunging 

 and again reappearing a short distance off. The porpoises, in wild leaps 

 went several feet sheer out of the water, and then dived apparently in 

 search of their prey. In this manner the flock of whales and porpoises 

 went circling round for at least a distance of ten miles. Their presence 

 was accounted for when next morning a number of the seine boats entered 

 Girvan and Lochryan with catches of one to two hundred baskets of 

 herrings each. 



The Winged Fishers of the Banks — Gannets and others. — About 10 miles 

 from the shore the island of Ailsa Craig rises out of the water, a solitary 

 1 fragment of an earlier world.' It is the abode of innumerable sea birds, 

 which rear their clamorous brood on the shelving rocks, and find abundant 

 food on the rich banks of Ballantrae. Chief amongst these is the stately 

 gannet or solan goose. Overhead the air is often clouded with them. 

 Gathering their wings to their sides, they drop from the height of 200 to 

 300 yards like meteor showers, jets of spray rising on the surface, and 

 indicating the spots where they have pierced the water. Sometimes 

 they descend to a depth of several fathoms, and fish the herrings from the 

 trammel-nets at the sea bottom, and occasionally get caught themselves in 

 the meshes. On rising they skim the surface of the water, and take 

 their places in the rear of the other birds, and repeat the operation. 

 All authorities agree in the opinion that the quantity of herrings con- 

 sumed by the gannets exceeds that captured by man. The puffin, or 

 peatie, make their nests in burrows on the Craig, and, descending from the 

 rock, find dainty meat for their young in the teeming waters. The puffin 

 has the rare capacity of carrying on both sides of its broad bill a string of 

 small fish, and when their young are in the nests may be seen rising from 

 the sea, their bills loaded with herring fry, which in July and August are 

 from 1 to inches in length. At this season of the year the quantity 

 of herring fry consumed by the puffins on Ailsa Craig is perhaps the 

 greatest of all. "With so many agencies of destruction, the marvel is 

 that so many herrings remain to become the food of man, who, with all 

 his ingenuity and skill, cannot compete with the sea birds, cod, and other 

 fishes. 



EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY NEILL AND COMPANY 



FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. 



