of the Fishery Board fur Scotland. 



227 



Islemartin, but after two nights' fishing there the shoal suddenly dis- 

 appeared, and no further landings took place. During this short period, 

 however, some of the boats did very well, a few of the East Coast boats 

 earning from XI 00 to .£220, while some of the Loch Fyne motor skiffs 

 earned up to £Q0 per boat. With the exception of a few skiffs which earned 

 from £20 to £50, the local fisherman had a poor season. Ovring to the 

 scarcity of herrings on the English coast, there was a keen demand for 

 curing purposes, and prices were good, ranging from 13s. 6d. to 32s. per 

 cran, and averaging 22s. 4d. per cran. Five steamers employed by Glasgow 

 fish merchants bought up a proportion of the catch and took them in a 

 fresh state to Glasgow. Apart from this there was no freshing for the 

 Southern markets. 



A number of crews took part in the herring fishings at Stornoway in July 

 and August, and at Kyle and Loch Snizort in ^sTovember. At the former 

 place practically nothing was done, but between the two latter places those 

 crews who went there early earned up to £70 per boat ; but a number of 

 crews were too long in reaching these places, and did practically nothing. 



Herring-curing was engag(^d in by 13 firms at Ullapool, 5 at Badachro, 2 

 at Aultbea, and 1 at Lochinver, but owing to the small volume of business 

 done operations were not profitable. Owing, however, to the high prices 

 obtained for the cured article, most of the firms would hold their own. 



Direct exportations consisted of one part-cargo of 1404 barrels to 

 Konigsberg. 



The cod and saithe net fishing at Gairloch was quite satisfactory to fisher- 

 men. A fleet of 30 boats was engaged, and grossed from £37 to £S7 per 

 boat, the average being £53 per boat with four of a crew. Stormy weather 

 was experienced throughout the greater part of the ten weeks during which 

 the fishing lasted, but notwithstanding this the total catch shows an increase 

 on that of last year of 187 cwts. in quantity and £55 in value. The greater 

 part of tJie catch was cured dried, and, the fish being of; good size and 

 quality, good prices were obtained by curers. Prices paid to fishermen were, 

 for cod, 5d. to Is. 5d. each, averaging 8d. each ; and for saithe, l|d. to 8Jd. 

 each, averaging 4d. each. Owing to the increased competition from other 

 centres, and the distance from railway communication, buyers found it 

 unprofitable to continue sending fish to the fresh markets, with the result 

 that little was done at this branch of the industry. 



Line-fishing was prosecuted by a number of fishermen in each section of 

 the district, and the catch by this means exceeds that of the preceding year 

 by 222 cwts. in quantity and £13 in value. 



Stormy weather interrupted the operations of those prosecuting the shell 

 fisheries, and when this is taken into account the decrease is not large. 

 Lobsters show a faUing-off of £200 in value, but the value of whelks 

 gathered has increased by £66. 



A committee of local gentlemen has been formed for the purpose of carry- 

 ing out an extension to the present pier at Ullapool, and it is hoped that 

 success may crown their efforts, as the need for improvement in this respect 

 has been repeatedly demonstrated by the great congestion created by even a 

 fair day's fishing. 



Fortunately, no lives were lost in connection with the fisheries, and the 

 damage to boats and gear was not great. 



The barometers at Ullapool and Badachro are well looked after, and are 

 appreciated by the fishermen of both places. 



James Mair, 

 Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 UiiiAPOOL, Qth January 1911. 



p 



