of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



229 



the addition of several second- and third-class boats. There are indica- 

 tions, however, that a few of tlie larger boats usually employed in herring 

 fishing will not again be used for that purpose. These are boats owned 

 by local merchants who have lost financially over the last two years' 

 fishings. A promising feature during the early part of the year was the 

 fitting of motors into three first-class sail boats, all the more noteworthy 

 as the fishermen themselves are the sole owners of the boats. Hitherto, 

 the fishermen of this district had shown but little interest in this method of 

 propulsion, only one boat having had motor power installed previously. 

 Unfortunately the enterprise of the fishermen has not been rewarded, as 

 they experienced a very unsuccessful season. 



A little was done at winter herring fishing, some drifters landing catches 

 in Castlebay from the Minch grounds. The quality of the herrings was 

 good, and curers on the ground bought readily at easy prices. A few of 

 the local boats also fitted out, but owing to the demand becoming less 

 keen, accompanied by a fall in prices, they soon gave up fishing. Alto- 

 gether 1264 crans valued at £763 were landed, all the herrings being cured 

 and mostly consigned to Petrograd. 



The summer herring fishing commenced on the 13th May, when 

 about 140 boats were prepared to engage in fishing. Fish were extremely 

 scarce throughout the whole season, and only on two days was the catch 

 considered anything like satisfactory. The quality of the herrings was 

 poor at first, but improved somewhat as the season advanced. It was 

 generally observed that better fish were caught on Stanton Bank and in 

 Gunna Sound than on the other grounds frequented. Some drifters also 

 tried the west side occasionally, and although only a few small shots 

 were got, the quality was all that could be desired. The highest })rice paid 

 for herrings during the season was 66s. per cran, while the average works 

 out at 33s. per cran, as compared with 49s. in 1913. In consequence of the 

 scarcity of herrings, the majority of the steam drifters left for East Coast 

 ports about the first week of June. A few, again, with the experience of 

 former years, continued to work in the hope that fish would become more 

 plentiful. The most successful among the stranger vessels was a steam 

 drifter with £620, while a motor boat had £420, and a sailer £320 ; taken in 

 the same rotation the best fished last year had £1525, £728, and £715 

 respectively. The local fishermen fared very badly, the four motor boats 

 only averaging £102, as against £540 last year ; and sail boats £52, as com- 

 pared with £101 in 1913. It will thus be seen that the fishermen of this 

 district generally would have little over after meeting expenses, and in 

 many cases a settlement on the wrong side. Three boats at the Loch 

 Bracadale fishing are reported to have done well, the best earning £250 

 for five weeks' fishing. 



Line fishing receives very little attention from the fishermen of this 

 district. Only two boats took part in great-line fishing during the 

 early spring, grossing about £65 between them. Several small lots of 

 great-line fish were also landed during the spring months by Peterhead 

 liners. 



The shell fisheries rank next to herring fishing in importance in this 

 district, and provide a livelihood for a considerable number of fishermen. 

 Lobster fishing is prosecuted more or less throughout the whole year, 

 the fishermen with the help of local merchants sending their catches to 

 market themselves. Unfortunately at the time lobsters were most plenti- 

 ful, prices were ridiculously low, with the result that the fishing was 

 followed with less energy. Cockles were not so plentiful as in former 

 years, but better prices were received from the English markets, where 

 most of them are sent. The quantity dispatched this year was 2827 cwts. 

 valued at £605, against 3813 cwts. valued at £639 in the previous year. 



