of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



225 



Bear a District. 



The various branches of the fisheries carried on in the district of Barra 

 were attended with varying success during the year under review. The 

 returns of fish landed show a falling oft' in the quantity to the extent of 

 25,767 cwts., and in the value of £9807, exclusive of shellfish. This short- 

 coming may be accounted for by the partial failure of the early summer 

 herring fishing during the months of May and June. 



The means of Cijpture returns show a slight improvement. A number 

 of both new and second-hand l)oats were purchased from East Coast owners 

 for herring fishing purposes, several of which are fitted with steam capstans. 

 There is a corresponding increase in gear, a number of boats being provided 

 for the first time with bush ropes. 



About 20 boats prosecuted the great-line fishing from February to June. 

 Ling appeared to be plentiful a few miles off the coast and some fair takes 

 were secured, especially during the month of May. There was a keen 

 demand for the fish for curing purposes, and the quantity cured shows an 

 increase of 777 cwts. Results clearly proved that this branch of the fishing 

 industry is capable of development. 



The early summer herring fishing opened at Castlebay and Lochboisdale 

 on the recognised date, viz., 11th May. The fishing fleet consisted of 82 

 steam drifters and 203 sail boats. About 40 of the smaller class of sailers 

 made Lochboisdale their headquarters. The'^fleet operating was about 90 

 craft short of that of the previous year, and the number of fish-curing firms 

 was four less. The fishing during May and June proved a partial failure, 

 largely in consequence of the low prices paid for the fish owing to their 

 indiflferent quality. The fleet operated from Skerryvore, north to Skye, and 

 to the west of Barra Head, but with the same meagre results. The stranger 

 crews commenced to leave for Shetland and the East Coast ports about the 

 end of May, and by the 20th June the early season had closed. 



The only interesting feature of the fishing industry in 1910 was the success 

 of the late herring fishing, which commenced about the middle of July and 

 continued until September Steam drifters to the number of 100 and 40 

 sail boats returned from the East Coast to participate in this fishing. The 

 herrings were of excellent quality, and some heavy takes were landed. The 

 fish were caught all over the Minch, but the most prolific grounds lay off 

 the island of Canna, and from 10 to 20 miles south from Muldoanich. The 

 west side grounds were also tried by a few crews on several occasions, but 

 without success. Steam drifters reaped the best of the fishing. Only once 

 did the sailers score, and on that occasion prices fell as low as 12s. per cran. 

 Weather conditions were unfavourable for sailing boats, and the bulk of the 

 sail fleet was often forced to remain ashore, owing to calms and stormy 

 weather, while the steam drifters reaped the harvest. 



Prices during the early season ranged from 5s. to 47s. 6d. per cran, with 

 an average of 17s. IJd., and during the late season from 12s. to 60s., with 

 an average of 30s. It may be stated that the highest price paid this year 

 only reached 60s. per cran, in contrast to 80s. and 90s. a few years ago. 



Herring fishing was carried on until the close of the year by the local 

 craft, but no quantity of fish was found on the usual grounds. Several 

 crows operated in the Skye lochs during November, and in one or two cases 

 made substantial earnings. 



Local crews had, on the whole, rather a poor season : an outstanding figure 

 is £400, but the average earnings only amounted to £170. 



During the early season the earnings of steam drifters might be stated as 

 Tuning from £100 to £250, and of sailers from £30 to £100. During the 

 late season steam drifters earned from £200 to £500, and sailers from £80 

 to £280. 



