234 



Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



all kinds of fish, the only exception being lobsters, which have decUned in 

 value owing to the stoppage of exports to the Continent. Permits are 

 being issued to all the local boats taking part in the ground-net fishing,, 

 which has just begun, and also to a few who are prosecuting the herring 

 fishing in Loch Bracadale, so that the number of boats fishing meantime 

 in this district is quite up to the average at this season of the year. 



George Downie, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Kyle, 11th January 1915* 



Fort-William District. 



For the year under review the aggregate results of the fisheries in 

 Fort- William district show an increase in the quantity of fish landed of 

 36,365 cwts=, and in value of £16,032 compared with the figures for 1913. 



The value of shell-fish also shows an increase of £59. 



The Means of Capture returns show a reduction of 18 boats, 23 being 

 cancelled during the year as being unfit for fishing purposes, while only 

 7 were added to the register to replace those withdrawn. The number of 

 motor boats is now 15, being an increase of only 1 boat for the year. 

 There is little or no change in the extent of gear, or method of fishing. 

 Owing to a number of fishermen giving up the sea on acccount of their 

 age, and the younger generation seeking other employment, there is a 

 decrease of 20 fishermen. 



The winter herring fishing — a continuation from 1913 — was carried on 

 during January and February with fair success. The chief feature of the 

 fishing was the high prices paid for fresh herrings. From the commence- 

 ment of the season till the end of January, prices varied from 35s to 85s. 

 per cran, while for the remainder of the season the average price was 

 about 17s. per cran. The principal fishing stations were Mallaig and 

 Oban. The Oban fleet operated ofi Skerryvore, Dhu Artach, and Coll. 

 while the Mallaig fleet operated chiefly off Coll and Canna. At the latter 

 port the fishing was greatly augmented by some heavy takes from the 

 Stornoway fishing grounds in the North Minch. The season was a very 

 stormy one, which tended to curtail landings. This fact, coupled with 

 the partial failure of the Loch Bracadale fishing, accounted for the de- 

 crease in herrings landed compared with the catch of 1913. The season 

 came to a close about the end of February with a total of 14,516 cians 

 valued at £14,893. 



Line fishing was carried on simultaneously with the herring fishing 

 during January, February, and March. The results of this branch of the 

 fisheries, from a fisherman's point of view, w^ere the most remunerative 

 on record, especially at Mallaig, A number of boats made substantial 

 earnings, steam liners making from £560 to £785, while the earnings 

 of motor boats reached as high as £400. The principal feature of the white 

 fishing was the extraordinarily fine shots of hake landed. This valuable 

 fish was found in considerable quantities in a patch of deep water off South 

 Eona. Prices ranged as high as £7, 12s. per score. Only large boats 

 were able to participate in this fishing with any degree of regularity, the 

 smaller craft being often prevented owing to stormy weather. 



The early summer herring fishing opened at Mallaig and Oban about 

 the first week of May, and closed about the middle of June. The fishing 

 grounds ^operated on were off Coll, Canna, Skerryvore, and Dhu Artach. 



