238 



Appendices to Tvjenty-nhith Annual Report 



seasoQ was not so good as the season of 1909, for while the quantity landed 

 shows an increase, the value shows a considerable shrinkage, due to the 

 indifferent quality of the herrings and consequent low prices ruling. The 

 fiihing ground was the same as in former years, namely^ along the Ayrshire 

 coast and off" the shores of Arran. The season's average price was 17s. 5d. 

 per cran, as against 24s. 5d. in 1909. When the home fishing collapsed in 

 October a proportion of the fleet proceeded to Loch Broom, but the venture 

 proved unsuccessful, and after a short stay these boats returned home. 



The three East Coast steam liners that were fishing from Stranraer in the 

 spring of 1909 returned in 1910. One of these boats did exceptionally well, 

 earning fully £500, whilst the other two earned £230 and «£220 respectively. 

 The best single shot realised £46. The catches consisted chiefly of skate, 

 eels, and cod. Occasionally these boats delivered fish outwith this district. 



Cod-net fishing and line fishing was carried on concurrently in the early 

 months of the year. The earnings from these sources were not quite so good 

 as in the year 1 909, but the decreases in the quantity and value were very 

 slight. The crews engaged in these fishings suffered more from detention by 

 bad weather than any of the other branches of the industry. This was due to 

 various causes, namely, the season of the year, the comparatively small and 

 open boats employed, and to the difficulty of access to the harbours in stormy 

 weather. 



There are trifling decreases in the quantity and value of flat-fish taken by 

 beam trawl in the Solway, and the flounder-net fishing also shows slightly 

 poorer returns when compared with the records for the preceding year. 



Mackerel were very plentiful, and the quantity caught was about double 

 that for the year 1909. The value, however, was relatively much lower. 

 From this district there does not appear to be a profitable outlet for this fish. 

 When local needs have been supplied there seems to be a difficulty in 

 disposing of them to any advantage. 



Oysters show an appreciably smaller output compared with the preceding 

 year's i-eturns. Crabs and unclassified kinds also exhibit slight decreases, 

 whilst lobsters and mussels show moderately increased returns. 



Boat -building is almost a thing of the past in this district. Only two small 

 craft were built during the year. There were, however, three new boats 

 added to the register, which were built in other districts. 



Rarely does a year pass without loss of life having to be recorded, but 

 this year was happily an exception to the rule. 



Fishery Office, 

 GiRVAN, Ith January 1911. 



W. M. Wares, 



Fishery Officer. 



