of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



231 



value of boats is greater by 9 and £47 respectively, there is a decrease of 

 6 tons in the total tonnage. One of the Gairloch skiffs had a motor 

 engine of the " Kelvin " type installed which has given entire satisfaction, 

 and another boat belonging to the same locality is also being fitted v/ith 

 a motor. The progress in this respect has hitherto been slow, but the 

 fishermen are now becoming more ahve to the advantages of auxiliary 

 motor propulsion. There are shght increases in the number of hnes and 

 lobster creels on hand and a decrease in the number of nets, the total 

 value of gear exhibiting a decrease of £141. There are 22 fewer fishermen 

 returned, owing to the emigration of several young men to the colonies 

 and a number of the older men ceasing to engage in fishing. 



The outbreak of war between this country and Germany had a serious 

 effect on the earnings of the fishermen and gutters and packers of the 

 district. None of the former and few of the latter were engaged at the 

 English fishing, where they all made splendid wages in 1913, and both 

 hired hands and gutters and packers employed at Scottish fishing centres 

 had to return to their homes early in August with their earnings very much 

 short of what they were in 1913. Lobster fishing was also adversely 

 affected. Returns in August, September, and October were very \oy^, some 

 of them being only 2d. per lobster, and in some sections fishing ceased 

 altogether. Prices, however, improved in November, the agents of English 

 merchants having resumed business, and towards the end of December 

 this branch of the industry had resumed its normal aspect. For some 

 years past a number of East Coast and Moray Firth crews have engaged 

 in herring fishing in the lochs of this district during the last four months 

 of the year, but none of these crews put in an appearance during the year 

 under review owing to the war, and their absence was felt both in fishing 

 and commercial circles in the district. 



The herring fishing was most disappointing. At some creeks the 

 small rowing boats had good earnings from the inshore grounds, but 

 taken as a whole this fishing was again a failure. The principal ports of 

 landing were Lochinver, Badachro, and Ullapool, and one-fourth of the 

 total catch of 3786 crans was landed by stranger crews in January. At 

 the first-named place the fishing was carried on in boats of under 18 feet 

 keel, and while herrings were got during June to December, the best 

 results were obtained in the early part of January. The total catch at 

 this creek was 1530 crans, which realised an average price of 14s. lid. 

 per cran. 



The summer herring fishing at Badaciiro was prosecuted by the local 

 skiffs only, with meagre results, and nothing was done by them during the 

 winter, but in January 780 crans were landed by steamers which could 

 not dispose of their catches at Stornoway. 



Only a few local skiffs operated from Ullapool, and, although herrings 

 were landed during August, September, and October, only one good day's 

 fishing was recorded. The total catch for the creek was 530 crans. 



The size and quality of the winter herrings were good, but those of 

 the summer and autumn only fair. Prices for January herrings were 

 from 10s. to 20s. per cran, but the cessation of curing for the Continent 

 during the later period left the business in the hands of those who supply 

 the home, market, and prices fluctuated from 5s. to 20s. per cran according 

 to quality. The average price over all was 14s. 7d. per cran. 



Little curing was done for America, and those cured for the Continent 

 were all shipped by the end of March. Curers gave more attention to 

 supplying the home market, and good business was done, but all over 

 the district the moderate prices prevailing caused fishermen and others 

 to do a little curing fur their own and their friends' use. 



The usual cod and saithe net fishing at Badachro was engaged in during 



