182 



Appendices to Twenty-ninth Annual Report 



made at the early fishing on the west side of Shetland, but apparently 

 there was a scarcity of herrings on the old familiar grounds, which was 

 attributed by many of the fishermen to whaling. The catch of herrings 

 at Lerwick exceeded all previous records. The season throughout was 

 attended with gratifying results to both the Scottish and English 

 fishermen who took part in the fishing. Lerwick, with its natural 

 harbour and deep water, is more favoured by the English drifter than 

 any of the other ports on the East Coast. Upwards of 300 vessels, 

 other than Scottish, hailing chiefly from Yarmouth and Lowestoft, 

 took part in the great summer herring fishing from this station. Many 

 of these earned from £1000 to £1200. The earnings of the local fisher- 

 men were better than for several years back, a good many crews having 

 from £500 to £600. ' At the close of the fishing, which terminated 

 earlier than usual, a portion of the fleet proceeded to prosecute the 

 fishing off the Northumberland coast, and a number of curers with 

 their employees also followed. Although the results were fairly 

 satisfactory, the fishing was of short duration. Blyth, with its com- 

 modious harbour, was the chief centre of operations. At Eyemouth 

 the fishing opened early, and curing for the Continent was commenced 

 in May. Five years ago there was practically none cured before the 

 end of July. 



Although operations on the East Coast and in Orkney and Shetland 

 had terminated so successfully in favour of the fishermen, the summer 

 herring fishing prosecuted on the West Coast from Mallaig to Barra 

 fell considerably short of the previous year's catch. Not until July 

 was the quality of the herrings considered good, but owing to the 

 scarcity remunerative prices were secured. At several places on the 

 West Coast, notably at Stornoway, the number of 1st class boats 

 owned by local fishermen is decreasing. A number have been trans- 

 ferred to other ports, while others have become unseaworthy. The 

 men who owned these boats now proceed during the summer season to 

 find employment as hired hands on board steam drifters and sailing 

 boats working from the great fishing centres on the East Coast. Not 

 only do the East Coast fishermen depend largely on the Lews for hired 

 hands, but also the curers for their supply of gutters and packers. 

 Last year it was estimated that 1700 men and 2500 women workers be- 

 longing to the Lews took part in the great summer herring fishing on 

 the East Coast and at Shetland. 



Although the early catch at Castlebay was a partial failure, there 

 was a revival of the fishing at a most unusual ilate (from July to end of 

 September), and operations were carried on by a fleet of 100 steamers 

 and 40 sailers that returned from the East Coast. The most prolific 

 grounds were off the island of Canna, where some heavy takes of ex- 

 cellent quality were secured. Although th^ stranger boats operated 

 with much success, the earnings of the local craft for the year were 

 under those of 1909. One gratifying feature in connection with the 

 district is that several new and second-hand boats were purchased for 

 herring fishing, and fishing material improved, which shows that the 

 fishermen intend to put more energy into their work than hitherto. 



During the year the herring fishings of Loch Carron and Skye 

 showed signs of revival. A number of the local fishermen operated 

 with great success upon the shoals of herrings which entered the lochs 

 on the west side of Skye, particularly Loch Snizort. Owing to the 

 failure of the fishing in the Skye lochs, there has been a falling-off in 

 the number of fishermen, boats, and fishing material during the last 

 decade. 



The herring fishing in Fort-William district was attended with 

 gratifying results. Mallaig was the chief centre, where, during the 



