of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



179 



Ballantrae district. In value there is a decrease of upwards of £16,000 

 as compared with 1913. The principal fishing ground was Loch Ryan, 

 where the local fishermen are much opposed to the method of capture 

 (seining) used by the stranger craft in these waters. 



Except in Campbeltown and Ballantrae districts, the white fisheries 

 of the Clyde are a negligible quantity. At the form_.er place, several 

 East Coast boats, hailing chiefly from Montrose, gave an impetus to the 

 hne-fishing, and did remarkably well, with the result that a number of local 

 men were induced to prosecute the fishing also, while at Stranraer there 

 were 4 East Coast steam liners employed, and their earnings, for a period 

 of from 6 to 8 weeks, ranged from £500 to £800. 



Shell Fisheries. 



In the value of the shell fisheries there is a decrease of £7331 as com- 

 pared with 1913. Of the various kinds secured, oysters and lobsters 

 show the greatest decrease in quantity and value. In many of the 

 southern markets lobsters of good average size and quality realised 

 only nominal prices, and this was largely due to the absence from the 

 country on mihtary service of the class by whom these crustaceans are 

 consumed. During the last quarter of the year lobster fishing was 

 practically suspended, and none was stored for exportation. 



Barrel Making. 



In the number of barrels manufactured there is a decrease of 56,000 

 wholes and 88,000 halves, as compared with 1913, the output during the 

 last quarter of the year having been exceptionally small. Up to the 

 end of July the industry was in a prosperous condition, and coopers made 

 good wages. Owing to the large stocks of empty barrels on hand, and 

 the small number required for the East Anglian fishery, the outlook for 

 the current year is not promising. On the outbreak of hostilities a number 

 of men connected with the trade volunteered for mihtary service, and 

 others proceeded south, and found employment in the lead factories and 

 at various other trades. At Aberdeen two new barrel factories have been 

 erected, at a cost of £11,000, in addition to the existing one, which employed 

 close upon 100 hands. But for the amount of machinery now utilised in the 

 manufacture of herrhig barrels, the requirements could not be met. 

 During the year several cases of the manufacture of defective stave wood 

 into herring barrels were reported, and the curers cautioned as to their 

 exportation if filled with herrings. In 1910 the attention of the trade 

 was drawn to this matter by circular. 



Owing to the short duration of the fishing, and the decrease in the 

 catch, hired hands, fishworkers, and carters did not reap the same results 

 as in 1913. Some thousands, however, of the former, connected with the 

 R.N.R., were called up for service, and so reheved the depression, which 

 otherwise might have prevailed owing to their poor earnings. 



It is gratifying to state that m connection with the fisheries there 

 were six fewer lives lost than in 1913. 



The estimated loss of boats totally lost or damaged was £37,500, 

 while the loss of fishing gear was £86,000. About four-fifths of the latter 

 amount is referable to the districts of Leith, Aberdeen, and Peterhead. 

 In many of the other districts the loss is no more than normal. 



J. Skinner, 

 General Inspector of Sea Fisheries. 



Fishery Board for Scotland, 

 Edinburgh, Uh February 1915. 



