238 



Appendices to Thirty-third Annual Report 



Inveraray District. 



Following a series of unprofitable years, it is disappointing to have 

 again to record the non-success of the fisheries of Inveraray district during 

 the year just closed. This is essentially a herring fishery district, and as 

 this branch of the industry was a complete failure, the results must be 

 keenly felt by all connected with it, especially as only moderate results 

 were met with by local fishermen in their operations in other districts. 



The aggregate catch was 9818 cwts. valued at £3418, a decrease of 

 4304 cwts. and £1681 respectively, when compared with the previous 

 year's figures. 



Notwithstanding the depressed state of the fishing industry, the number 

 of motor boats continues to increa.se, and during the year 8 were added 

 to the fleet. Three of these were small boats intended for lobster fishing, 

 the others being the ordinary Lochfyne skiff. The tendency in this district 

 with fishermen already in possession of motors is to acquire larger and 

 more powerful engines, and 5 motors of 10/12 to 18/22 h.p. displaced 

 others of 7/9 and 8/10 h.p. Only the most successful fishermen can, 

 however, afford this exchange. 



The length of lines in use showed a shrinkage, but there was a slight 

 increase in the area of netting, owing to the fact that, for a short period, 

 a greater number of crews was engaged in drift-net fishing in other 

 districts. 



A new method of setting creels was generally adopted by lobster 

 fishermen. All creels are now fastened to a back-rope at intervals of 

 8 fathoms by stoppers 1 J fathoms long. Each creel thus acts as an anchor 

 to the others, while the back -rope usually falls across the creels and gives 

 additional security. Only two headlines or leaders are used, one at each 

 end of the fleet of creels. Previously each creel had an independent 

 leader which, especially in strong currents, caught passing A\Teckage 

 and seaweed, and, being overweighted, carried the buoys under water 

 and dragged the creels from their original position. 



The loss, which from this cause was sometimes considerable, will be 

 obviated by the system now introduced. 



With the extremely disappointing results in 1913, it was thought 

 that the herring fishing had reached its lowest ebb, but it was left for the 

 year under review to record the poorest catch landed in the district within 

 the memory of the oldest fisherman. It is even doubtful if, in the annals 

 of the Lochfyne herring fishery, operations have ever had such meagre 

 results. To more clearly demonstrate the complete failure, it is only 

 necessary to state that the year's catch represented only an average 

 night's fishing during the prosperous seasons some thirty years ago. 



The continued failure of this most important branch of the industry 

 is having its effect. 



Already the creeks in Upper Lochfyne have been practically depleted 

 of their fishing population, and this state of matters is slowly but surely 

 extending to the more populous creeks in lower Lochfyne. Since 1905 

 the number of fishermen in Tarbert has decreased by 30 per cent., in 

 Ardrishaig by 33 per cent., and over the whole district by 50 per cent. 

 This movement can only be checked by a speedy improvement in the 

 fishing. 



At no time was there any great quantity of herrings in the loch, and 

 the few crews that put to sea early in March confined their operations to 

 Kilbrannan Sound. In May, with all the boats at work, matters had not 

 improved, and only occasionally throughout the whole season had Loch- 

 fyne its regular fleet. Only on two occasions did the weekly catch exceed 



