178 



Appendices to Thirty-first Annual Report 



8s. 3d. per cwt., and haddocks 9s. lOd. Of the total white fish landed, 

 5800 cwts. were brought in by trawlers. 



Tn Barra district herring fishing was, as usual, commenced on the 

 10th May, and continued throughout the summer months, chiefly by 

 district crews. In the number of East Coast craft engaged there was 

 a marked decrease, and by the beginning of June these had nearly all 

 left for the East Coast and Shetland, which partly accounts for a 

 shortage in the catch of 15,137 crans as compared with the preceding 

 year. On the whole, the fishing was light, but the quality was excep- 

 tionally good, and the average price for June and July was 43s. 3d. per 

 cran. Several steam drifters who fished in the Minch till the middle 

 of July grossed from £1200 to £1600. The East Coast sail crews who 

 remained till the close of July averaged £486, and the earnings of 18 

 large local boats ranged from £350 to £520. One small-sized motor 

 boat grossed £467, as compared with £200 to £400 for sail boats of a 

 similar size. A number of district crews engaged in line fishing during 

 the spring months met with more than ordinary success. Ling averaged 

 6s. 6d. per cwt., and cod 4s. 9d. The value of the district shell fisheries 

 was about the same as in 1911. About 100,000 lobsters were landed, 

 at an average price of 10|d. each. 



In Loch Carron and Skye district the white-fish fisheries are of so 

 little importance that a very small portion of the catch can be spared 

 for the inland markets. On an average, the annual value of the catch 

 amounts to between £3000 and £4000. Lobsters are fairly plentiful 

 on the west side of Skye, and over 50,000 of these were placed on the 

 market at Is. each. More or less herrings were accounted for monthly, 

 and from July to the close of December good results were obtained. 

 Dense shoals of herrings of excellent quality were discovered in several 

 of the Skye lochs — notably Loch Bracadale — and takes of over 100 crans 

 were frequently caught. The district sail craft secured a fair share 

 of the catch. Sail boats from the East Coast also did very well, but 

 the steam vessels had the largest share. Contrasted with the preceding 

 year, the district returns exhibit a considerable decrease, which is 

 accounted for by a much larger portion of the catch than hitherto being 

 landed at Stornoway and Mallaig. An interesting feature in connec- 

 tion with the unexpected appearance of such a body of fish was their 

 unusually large size and excellent quality. In the early part of the 

 season they resembled those caught at Barra and Scalpay, Harris, in 

 June, and by the middle of November they were fully developed with 

 milt and roe, and had commenced to spawn. 



As in the preceding year, the Loch Broom, district herring fishing 

 was a failure. Preparations were again made for curing on an extensive 

 scale, and during part of September and October the district fleet, 

 supplemented by stranger crews, occasionally secured fair takes of 

 superior quality, but the catch for the season did not exceed 3000 crans, 

 as compared w4th 50,000 crans in 1908. A number of district crews 

 engaged in cod net fishing from Gairloch during the early months of 

 the year, and landed a total of 8109 cwts., at an average price of 4s. 3d. 

 per cwt. A similar quantity of line fish was caught, being all the white 

 fish accounted for in the district. In the value of shellfish, chiefly 

 lobsters, there was a slight decrease. Of lobsters, about 70,000 were 

 caught, which realised on an average Is. each. 



Not for a number of years has the herring fishing in Stornoway 

 district proved so remunerative to fishermen and others connected with 

 the industry. In general, the quality was good, and prices ruled high. 

 For the year the average was 26s. per cran, against 19s. per cran in 

 1911. In the quantity landed there was an increase of 45,000 crans. 

 The outstanding feature of the fishing was the success obtained during 



