228 Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



of mackerel is merely an incident in the herring fishing, there being no 

 organised fishery. 



Line fishing has been on the decline for some years, and the year 

 under review exhibits a further shortage, due partly at least to the number 

 of fishermen who have been called up in coimection with the war. 



The drying of cod and ling was not engaged in so extensively as formerly. 

 Prices for fish treated in this way were the best for some years, averaging 

 £25 and £32 per ton respectively. 



Lobster fisliing was prosecuted chiefly at tlie outside stations. The 

 results from this source were not very satisfactory. Besides, there was 

 less demand for lobsters than in normal years, owing to the class who 

 mostly use them being at the front. 



About 2500 women proceeded to the East Coast and Shetland in May 

 and June, but their earnings were much less than in an ordinary average 

 season. 



There is little material change in the means of capture. One motor 

 engine, which cost £650, was installed in a first-class sail boat, and has 

 given satisfaction. Another small boat got a Kelvin motor put in, which 

 cost £120, but this craft does little fishing. The former motor has two 

 engines which work independently of each other, and has twin screws. 



Owing to the difficulty of getting safe transport to Kussia fewer barrels 

 of herrings were cured pickled than would otlierwise have been the case, 

 but against this a mucJi larger quantity was kippered than in former 

 years, and good prices were obtained for the lierrings so treated. 



Tlie number of naval reserve men belonging to the district serving in 

 the fleet is 1903. The number of men who have joined the land forces is 

 approximately between 1100 and 1200. Tliere appears to have been no 

 actual record kept here of the number of men who accepted the call to 

 the latter arm of the fighting service, but they were drawn to a greater or 

 less extent from nearly every trade and occupation in the district. 



In addition to the above about 100 men left the district for Glasgow 

 and Liverpool to fill vacancies on merchant ships created by reservists 

 having been called up for naval duty. All expenses Avere paid and high 

 wages given. 



Generally speaking, the inhabitants of the district were seldom better 

 off from a monetary point of view, as it is estimated that about £4000 from 

 the men on service are coming to the island each week. 



I regret to have to report that two men lost their lives in connection 

 with the fisheries. Both fatalities occurred on the East Coast, one man 

 being knocked overboard at sea, while the other was found drowned in 

 Peterhead harbour. 



W. M. Wares, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Stornoway, lith January 1915. 



Barra District. 



So far as this district is. concerned the results of the fisheries for the 

 year now ended have proved to be the worst on record. Compared with 

 last year's figures, there is a shortage of 77,558 cwts. in quantity, and 

 £59,009 in value. For this state of matters the unsuccessful herring 

 fishing is mainly responsible, although no doubt the curtailment of the 

 season consequent on the outbreak of hostilities also contributed. 



In the Means of Capture returns there is very little change, except for 



