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Afpendices to Thirtij- first Annual Report 



fishing grounds were Loch Snizort, Loch Bracadale, and off Dunvegan. 

 A few shots were also taken from the Skerryvore grounds by steam 

 drifters. The fishing closed about the first week of February with a 

 total of 3020 crans, against 2727 crans for 1911. 



The fact of the herring fishing returns showing a decrease of 30,026 

 cwts. in quantity and of £2740 in value cannot be attributed to a 

 scarcity of herrings. No doubt the fishing, so far as Kyle was con- 

 cerned, was practically a failure during autumn and towards the close 

 of the year. A large body of fish was met with in Loch Snizort from 

 July to October, but the fleet had to contend with exceedingly stormy 

 weather, which hindered fishing operations, and during a lull in the 

 fishing the fleet dispersed to other centres about the middle of October, 

 and so far as Loch Snizort was concerned the season closed about that 

 date. The fishing did not come up to expectations, and notwith- 

 standing that ground was laid aside for curing purposes, the bulk of the 

 catch was again sent to Stornoway to be cured. A dense shoal of 

 herrings was found in Loch Bracadale during November and December, 

 but owing to a succession of southerly and westerly gales only steam 

 drifters and large-sized sail boats were able to operate, and these landed 

 their catches chiefly at Stornoway and Mallaig. In fact, the principal 

 fishing grounds of the Stornoway and Mallaig fleets during that period 

 were in Loch Bracadale, and some exceptionally heavy takes were 

 landed at these ports. The quantity recorded for the district is 

 therefore infinitesimal compared with the quantity of herrings netted 

 in these lochs. The fact that there is no pier suitable for the landing 

 and curing of fish no doubt accounts for the smallness of the catch 

 recorded, and owing to the uncertainty attached to the lochs fishing 

 curers will not risk the construction of curing stations in the district. 

 The quality of the herrings caught in the various lochs until about the 

 first week of December was exceptionally good, and especially was this 

 the case with the fish caught in Loch Bracadale. A keen demand pre- 

 vailed, prices ruling from 18s. to as high as 36s. 6d. per cran. The 

 average price for the year was 20s. lOd., against 16s. per cran for 1911, 

 which accounts for the small falling-off in value compared with the 

 decrease in the quantity of fish landed. An interesting feature was the 

 success met with by the district motor boats. These craft had one of 

 the best seasons on record, their earnings ranging from £300 to £500 

 per boat. The greater part of their income, however, was earned 

 outside the district, principally during July and August, at Stornoway 

 and Harris, where good shots, which fetched high prices, were secured. 

 Sail boats were not so fortunate, the most successful grossing about 

 £180, while a large number made only from £50 to £90. The bulk of 

 the district fishermen therefore had rather a poor season, but the 

 majority do not depend entirely on fishing, many being employed on 

 board yachts during the summer, while the majority of them own 

 crofts, 



The mackerel fishing shows a further decrease of 1248 cwts. in 

 quantity and £51 in value from last year's figures. The fishing was 

 carried on as usual from Kyle and Portree during September and 

 October. The fishing ground was in the vicinity of Raasay. One 

 hundred and seventy-eight barrels were cured and sent ria Liverpool to 

 America, but up to the close of the year they remained unsold. The 

 average price of mackerel was 14s. 9d. per cran. 



Line-fishing shows results similar to those of last year, and was 

 principally engaged in to supply local requirements. Hake appeared 

 to be more plentiful about the island of Raasay, a fair quantity being 

 secured in cod nets. 



Lobster-fishing was engaged in at most of the creeks in the district, 



