of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



241 



the various fishing grounds, chiefly those in the Kyles of Bute, were 

 tried, the results were most disappointing, the catch for three months 

 being only 100 crans. 



The quality was, as a rule, poor, and most of the herrings were sold 

 for bait. 



The summer herring fishing opened early in June, when a few local 

 crews put to sea. but only small isolated shoals were met with, and the 

 landings for the month did not exceed 60 crans. With the advent of 

 July, more satisfactory results were obtained, and the quality of the 

 herrings was all that could be desired. The improvement was, however, 

 only temporary, for Hght catches were thereafter landed until the end 

 of August, when the fishing may be said to have closed. 



The season was thus of much shorter duratioii than usual, and fewer 

 stranger crews fished in the district waters. 



The quahty was usually very good, and prices ruled high, the average 

 price being 38s. 9d. per cran, compared with 34s. 8d. per cran in 1913. 



Lamlash was again credited with the bulk of the landings, its con- 

 tribution being 957 crans, or 77 per cent, of the season's catch. 



It is evident that fishermen belonging to the district are annually 

 taking a less active part in its fisheries, and this condition of affairs will, 

 no doubt, be further accentuated by the failure of the herring fishing, 

 following on the comparatively poor results in 1913. 



No herrings were cured gutted during the year, as, with the high 

 prices ruling, curers could not compete with fresh buyers. 



Two hundred and fifty crans were kippered, a reduction of fully 

 150 crans when compared with the figures for the preceding year. 



Practically all the herrings thus treated Vv^ere disposed of locally or 

 in the surrounding district at an average price of about 5s. per box, this 

 being equivalent to £4 per cran. 



The quantity of mackerel landed, although less than in the previous 

 year, was equal to the average catch of the past few years. The fishing 

 was carried on conjointly with the herring fishing, and no boats were 

 specially fitted out for its prosecution. 



The most productive grounds were those in the vicinity of Kilchattan 

 and on the east of Arran, but fair results were also met with in Lochs 

 Long and Goil. 



The quality, generally, was mixed, and there was httle demand for 

 the fish, all of which were dispatched to the markets in a fresh state. 



The average price per cwt. was 3s., compared with 2s. 8d. per cwt. 

 in 1913. 



Small-line fishing received little attention, and the most prominent 

 feature in connection with this branch of the industry was the continued 

 scarcity of haddocks and whitings on the grounds where they had pre- 

 viously been so plentiful. 



The district crews engaged in great-line fishing were joined by 4 

 motor boats from the East Coast, and, while the former fished chiefly 

 in the Kyles of Bute, the latter frequented the grounds S.E. of Bute 

 and in Gareloch, with more remunerative results. 



The catch consisted principally of eels and skate, nearly all of which 

 were consigned to the English markets. All cod and ling were disposed 

 of locally. 



The average prices for eels and skate were 10s. and 5s. per cwt. re- 

 spectively, and for cod and ling about 12s. per cwt. 



The shell-fish fisheries of the district are unimportant, and fully 

 90 per cent, of the value derived from them was from the sale of mussels 

 and unclassified kinds. The total value of all shell-fish was £495, a slight 

 decrease on the previous year's figures. 



