of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



185 



for the year the catch was under 4000 crans, at an average price of 14s. 8d. 

 per cran. All over there was a sHght decrease in the quantity of white 

 fish. Cod-net fishing carried on from Gairloch during the spring months 

 was prosecuted with good success. In ordinary times the annual value 

 of the shell fisheries of the districts is about £4000, chiefly for lobsters. 

 Up to the close of July there was a shght increase, as compared with 

 1913, but thereafter the demand slackened, and at the close of the year 

 there was a shortage in the catch of about 17,000 lobsters. 



Loch Carron and Skye. 



As in the preceding year, poor results were obtained at herring fishing 

 in Loch Carron and Skye district. Although more or less were landed in 

 each month of the year, the total amounted to only a little over 7000 crans. 

 The best results were obtained in January and September. The curing 

 stations at Uig were occupied during June and July, and fair success 

 was obtained until war broke out. Thereafter curing was discontinued, 

 and fishermen left for places on the mainland, chiefly Mallaig. Towards 

 the close of the year herrings were found in great abundance in Loch 

 Bracadale, but most of the catch was landed at Mallaig and accounted 

 for in Fort-William district. In the quantity and value of white fish 

 there was a marked increase, and mackerel were also plentiful. Con- 

 siderable quantities of hake and saithe were caught with nets, the former 

 realising 29s. 7d. per cwt., and the latter 4s. 3d. per cwt. Mackerel, 

 although invariably of good quality, were occasionally unsaleable, and 

 prices ranged from 6d. to 14s. per cwt. The average price for cod and 

 haddocks was 9s. 4d. and 10s. 9d. per cwt. respectively. Until the out- 

 break of the war there was an increase in the landings of shell fish, but 

 at the close of the year there was a decrease as compared with the pre- 

 ceding year. 



Fort- William. 



The fisheries of Fort-William district continue to prosper under the 

 improved methods of fishing by steam and motor craft, and the excellent 

 facilities provided at Mallaig and Oban for the prompt despatch of the 

 catch to the southern markets. During the year 38,350 cwts. of white 

 fish were accounted for. Of these 28,420 cwts. were landed at Mallaig, 

 7394 cwts. at Oban, and the balance at the various creeks in the district. 

 The produce of the herring fishery amounted to 148,046 cwts., nearly 

 all of which were landed at the two centres, chiefly at Mallaig. Practically 

 all the white fish and the bulk of the herrings were forwarded to market 

 in a fresh state. A small portion of the catch was kippered, and 6329 

 barrels were cured for exportation. The fishing grounds within reach 

 of the two centres extend from Cape Wrath to the Mull of Galloway, 

 the extreme limits being resorted to by steam hners only. During the 

 spring and summer months fair success was obtained at herring fishing 

 from Mallaig southwards. Towards the close of the year very heavy 

 takes were brought in from Loch Bracadale. For the month of December 

 alone the catch was 47,648 cwts., valued at £23,894. The best results 

 at fine fishing were obtained off the Ayrshire coast, where further de- 

 velopments are anticipated in the future. Owing to the rocky character 

 of the sea bottom on the West Coast generally, ^el, skate, and Hng 

 are most plentiful. During the early months of the year several crews 

 gave special attention to fine fishing for hake, and were most successful 

 in a small area of deep water on the cast side of Skye. The bulk of the 

 white fish was landed during the first four months of the year. Herring 

 fishing in the lochs of the district was again a failure, and there was 



