226 



Apjmidices to Tiventy-ninth Annual Report 



Mackerel fishing is now of no account in this district. The total quantity 

 of mackerel cured was 397 barrels, 77 of which were exported to America, 

 the remainder being cured by the fishermen for local consumption. It may 

 be stated that 295 crans landed at Castlebay, or practically half the quantity 

 landed in the district, had to be disposed of to the manure factory, as no 

 other buyers could be found for this class of fish. 



The shellfish branch of the fisheries was actively engaged in during the 

 year, and resulted in an improvement to the extent of £1613 in the total 

 value, lobsters accounting for .£1420 of the increase. 



Unfortunately, one fisherman lost his life by drowning. 



James Young, 



Fishery Office, Fishery Officer, 



Castlebay, Ith January 1911. 



Loch Broom District. 



The results of the fishing operations in this district during 1910, so far 

 as herrings are concerned, were not at all gratifying to those connected with 

 the industry. AVhen compared with the figures for 1909, which was only a 

 fairly satisfactory year, herrings show the large decrease of 14,056 crans in 

 quantity and =£11,934 in value. This decrease is accounted for by the 

 failure of the fishings in Lochewe and Loch Broom — a failure which a 

 large number of fishermen believe to have been caused by "daylight" fishing. 

 Whether or not this theory is correct is difiicult to say, but credence is lent 

 to it by the fact that during the last two seasons the fishing came to an 

 abrupt close immediatelj' the practice was commenced. Other kinds of 

 white fish, however, show an increase in the total landed of 1087 cwts. and 

 £245 in value, but shell-fish exhibit a decline in value of £162. 



The means of capture statistics show an increase of 6 boats, of the value 

 of £409. These boats are all of the Loch Fyne type, and were bought and 

 transferred from Skye and Loch Fyne districts. Two motor boats were 

 added to the register during the year, but only one of them is used to any 

 extent in the principal fisheries. The other is used for hand-line fishing 

 only. 



There is a slight increase in the area of netting, but the number and 

 value of lines and lobster creels used show further reductions. 



Herring fishing was a failure throughout the district. At Ullapool a fleet 

 of 30 boats tried the herring fishing in January, but the total catch for 

 that period amounted to only 158 crans. Nothing was done at Lochclash, 

 and at Lochinver the year's landings only reached the total of 233 crans. 

 The summer herring fishing at Gairloch also proved disappointing, the catch 

 from June to September being 148 crans. Towards the end of October, 

 however, an improvement set in, when a shoal of herrings was located inside 

 Longa Island. A fleet of 50 boats were engaged, and during the few days 

 the herring remained on the grounds a total of 690 crans, valued at £622, 

 was secured. The herrings ^vere small, but of good quality, and fetched 

 from 16s. to 25s. per cran. 



In Lochewe operations ^vere commenced in July, but the fishing never 

 showed any sign of becoming successful. A few good takes were got near 

 the entrance to the loch, but the shots were generally of a light and dis- 

 couraging nature. 



The autumn herring fishing at Ullapool, which at the start gave indica- 

 tions of giving good results, proved even more disappointing than that of 

 the previous year. A fleet of 180 boats congregated at the port, but the 

 fishing lasted only a fortnight. The herrings made their first appearance in 

 the vicinity of Priest Island, and gradually worked their way in towards 



