of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



229 



generally realized good prices. Prices, however, fluctuated a good deal, 

 varying throughout the season from 6s. to 44s. per cran. Notwithstanding 

 the fact that there were fewer boats at v/ork than usual, the season's results 

 show an improvement over the figures for 1909 to the extent of 5651 cwts. 

 in the quantity and .£853 in the value. 



The autumn herring fishing was commenced early in October by a fleet of 

 about 40 boats. During the first fortnight the fishing was prosecuted from 

 the different lochs in the district, but, except in Loch Dunvegan, which 

 yielded good results, the fishing was practically blank. About the middle 

 of October, however, a heavy shoal of herrings appeared in Loch Snizort, 

 and for several weeks the local crews had a splendid fishing. The report 

 that a shoal of herrings was on the ground soon spread, and by the end of 

 November about 250 boats had congregated from the different places on the 

 coast. For a week or so after their arrival a good fishing was obtained, but 

 with such a large fleet of boats operating in shallow waters, and steam 

 drifters and herring steamers continually moving about, the shoaJ was broken 

 up and shifted outside the loch into deep waters. The bulk of the catch 

 taken in Loch Snizort was bought by carrying steamers and taken to 

 Stornoway for curing purposes. About the middle of December herrings 

 appeared in Raasay Sound and in Loch Ainort, but as the weather continued 

 very stormy during the remainder of the year, the boats were seldom able to 

 get to sea. The herrings taken from these waters were landed at Portree 

 and Kyle-of-Lochalsh, and were consigned to the Southern markets in a fresh 

 state. At the latter place prices ruled high, the average price for December 

 being 32s. 3d. per cran. 



Of the 7392 barrels of herrings cured, 2112 barrels were cured on board 

 vessels fitted out for the purpose, and the remainder at the various stations 

 on shore. Most of the cured herrings were sold in the home markets. 



Of the shell-fish fi.sheries, lobster fishing is the most important. It is 

 prosEicuted throughout the year by fishermen belonging to the west of Skye 

 and those residing in the vicinity of Portree, and to a greater or less extent 

 from nearly all the creeks in the district. During the spring months stormy 

 weather greatly interfered with its prosecution, and the catch fell short of 

 that of the previous year by 10,461 lobsters, and the value by .£396. 



The losses during the year included the lives of two men belonging to 

 Waternish, whose boat, while proceeding to the lobster fishing, was struck 

 by a squall and foundered about 150 yards from the shore. 



The gratifying improvement in the fisheries of this district, noticeable 

 during the last few years, was maintained during the year under review ; in 

 fact, the quantity landed shows an increase of more than 50 per cent, upon 

 the previous year's total, which was also a record one. As in the preceding 

 year, the expansion was largely confined to Mallaig. Oban, however, in 1910, 

 showed a distinct improvement. Unfortunately, other creeks show little 

 variation and no signs of development. Herrings were largely responsible 

 for the satisfactory results at Mallaig and Oban. The aggregate total 

 increase for the district, excluding shell-fish, when compared with the figures 

 for 1909, amounts to 35,456 cwts. in quantity and ^13,695 in value. 



Changes of interest in the means of capture returns are confined to the 

 deletion of the two small steamers returned last year, and the installation of 

 a " Kelvin" motor into one of the district boats at an approximate cost of ^86. 



Fishery Office, 

 bth January 1911. 



A. J. MUNRO, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fort- W illiam District. 



