174 



Apjjeiidices to Thirty-first Annual Report 



steamers, which fellow the Heet to sea. The. most successful pair of 

 seiners (10 men) grossed £2100. In the earnings of the fleet, however, 

 there was considerable range, and although many crews did excep- 

 tionally well, others met with only moderate success. On several 

 occasions in September and October the shoals encountered were so 

 heavy that the nets gave way with the weighty of the fish. Drift net 

 fishing was carried on by a few boats, but the results were not satis- 

 factory. 



When compared with the figures of 1911, the results of the fisheries 

 of Ballantrae district are very encouraging. The feature of the year 

 was the high price paid for fresh herrings. For the period from May 

 to September the total landings amounted to over 4000 crans, and the 

 average price was 32s. 2d. per cran. Of 11,160 crans landed during 

 the winter season, about one-third was taken on the Ballantrae Banks, 

 where in 1911 practically none was obtained. The principal fishing 

 grounds during the season were in Loch Ryan and neighbourhood. 



Unfortunately, the fishings of Inveraray and Rothesay districts show 

 a considerable falling off as compared with the previous year. 



Towards the end of March several boats belonging to Tarbert 

 operated on the grounds in the vicinity of Skipness, and, although fair 

 catches were obtained, the quality was poor and the prices unremunera- 

 tive. The regular fleet was, however, at work in May, but as the 

 shoals were not located in Loch Fyne, the majority of the boats pro- 

 ceeded to other districts. In July and August the herrings were of 

 good quality, but in October shoals of immature herrings made their 

 appearance. Prices during the season varied from 2s. 6d. to 65s. per 

 cran, the average be'ng 19s. lOd., compared with 14s. 3d. in 1911. 



Decreases in the catch and value of the fisheries of Rothesay district 

 have again to be recorded. In the means of capture there is also a 

 falling off, but it is gratifying to note that several of the old boats 

 written off the register are being replaced by larger and' better craft. 

 There are now 16 motor-boats belonging to the district employed in the 

 fisheries. 



Compared with 1911, the results of the fisheries of Greenock district 

 show an increase of close on £4000, mainly due to a better catch of 

 herrings. The returns of fish caught by lines are practically the same 

 as in 1911, but the landings by trawlers show a considerable falling off, 

 there being only 22 arrivals, compared with 40 in the preceding year. 

 Although Glasgow is an excellent market for white fish — ^large 

 quantities being despatched thither from Aberdeen and Granton — as a 

 fishing centre it is too far removed from the best fishing grounds. It 

 is gratifying to state that in connection with the fisheries of the Clyde 

 there were no lives lost during the year, and the loss of and damage to 

 fishing boats and gear was under the average of previous seasons. 



In the trawling branch of the industry there were 306 steam vessels 

 employed, as compared with 311 in 1911. The total quantity and 

 value of fish landed (including the catch of foreign vessels) amounted 

 to 2,392,692 cwts. and £1,232,193, being a decrease of 46,416 

 cwts., but an increase of £118,373 as compared with 1911. 

 To a large extent the decrease in the catch was due to stormy weather, 

 a scarcity of certain kinds of fish on the banks, and also to the coal 

 strike in the spring, which, creating a scarcity of fuel, delayed the 

 vessels from making their regular trips to sea. The two great features 

 of the year in connection with the industry were the increased landings 

 by foreign vessels and the high prices. The landings of foreign 

 trawlers exceeded those of the previous year by 114,882 cwts. in quan- 

 tity and £46,373 in value. Altogether, there were 72 more arrivals 

 than in 1911. Prior to 1911 a number of trawlers were usually laid 



