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Appendices to Thirty-first Annual Report 



Loch Broom District. 



In reviewing the work of this district for 1912, it is disappointing to 

 have again to report a further decline in the quantity and value of fish 

 landed. The only satisfactory feature of the district fisheries was the 

 improvement in the cod and saithe net fishing, which yielded 1455 cwts. 

 more in quantity and £241 more in value than in 1911. This, 

 however, is the only branch of the industry which made any progress, 

 as the herring, mackerel, line fish, and shell fish returns all show de- 

 creases. The total catch of white fish amounted to 27,334 cwts. in 

 quantity and £8820 in value, which shows a decrease of 11,358 cwts. 

 and £1167 when compared with the catch of 1911. The value of shell- 

 fish landed was £281 less than last year, which makes a total decrease 

 of £1448 in the value of the year's catch. 



The means of capture returns exhibit a decrease in the number and 

 value of fishing boats, with a slight falling-off in the extent and value 

 of netting. Four second-class boats and two third-class boats were 

 added to the register, but the total number returned is 18 less than last 

 year. The failure of the herring fishing during the last few years, 

 especially in the northern half of the district, has given the fishermen 

 no encouragement to replace their old and useless boats, which have 

 been struck off the register. Great lines are very seldom used now, 

 and the number on hand is less. There is, however, an increase in the 

 number of hand-lines and lobster creels used, as both these means of 

 capture have lately increased in popularity. 



Herring fishing throughout the district gave extremely poor results. 

 Operations at Ullapool commenced in the third week of September, 

 when a few shots of herrings of fine quality were landed from near 

 Greenstone Point. The herrings found their way into Grinuard Bay, 

 where a fleet of 30 boats worked up to 18th October, and landed at 

 Ullapool a total of 1450 crans. These herrings were of good size and 

 splendid quality. Prices varied from 14s. to 36s. 6d. per cran, but 

 the general range was from 26s. to 34s. 6d., with an average of 29s. 4d. 

 per cran. During the short period the fishing lasted one local skiiff 

 grossed £216, while a few more earned up to £100, but the fishing 

 was over before a number of the local men could get their boats ready 

 after returning from their summer engagements on board yachts. 

 There was a large body of fish on the grounds, but the dogfish which 

 were present hampered the fishermen in their work, and destroyed a 

 considerable quantity of netting. The fishing fell off very quickly. 

 On the 18th October a good fishing was landed, and on the following 

 night the catch did not amount to a cran. 



At Aultbea the fishing began in August and extended through Sep- 

 tember and part of October. Th€ fishing grounds were practically the 

 same as those on which the Ullapool fleet worked, and quality and 

 prices were somewhat similar. The fleet, however, was small, and the 

 catch amounted to only 620 crans. 



Except in April and December, herrings were landed at Badachro 

 every month ; but here also failure was experienced, the year's catch 

 being only 475 crans, of the value of £496. 



A shoal of herrings made its appearance about Lochinver, and also in 

 Clashnessie Bay, towards the end of November, but the weather was 

 too stormy on such an exposed coast for the fishermen to do much with 

 their small craft, and only a few days' fishing was possible at each place. 



Herring-curing operations were carried on at Ullapool by seven firms, 

 but too little business was done to enable them even to pay expenses. 

 A number of steam liners were supplied with bait, which sent up prices 



