of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



227 



showed a considerable falling-off. There was little change in the 

 length of lines in use, but the area of netting showed a marked 

 shrinkage. This state of matters is sure to be further accentuated 

 unless a great and speedy improvement takes place in the fishing 

 industry. 



The number of boats using auxiliary motor power showed an increase 

 of fully 30 per cent., there being 40 belonging to the district at the 

 close of the year, compared with 30 in 1911. 



The herring fishing was again a pronounced failure, the landings 

 being the lowest recorded for the past 60 years. Throughout the whole 

 season only small isolated shoals were met with. 



Towards the end of March about 15 pairs of motor boats hailing from 

 Tarbert, Carradale, and Campbeltown commenced operations on the 

 grounds in the vicinity of Skipness. The fishing was irregular, but, 

 considering the early season, the results as regards quantity were satis- 

 factory. No buying steamers were then in attendance on the fleet, 

 and fishermen almost invariably ^' motored " with their takes to Fairlie, 

 and despatched them to Glasgow by rail. As the quality of the fish 

 left much to be desired, the monetary returns were generally 

 unremunerative. 



By the middle of May the regular fleet was at work, but the shoal 

 located during the previous month had evidently moved south, as few 

 herrings were then met with. Operations were continued for a short 

 time without success, with the result that the majority of the crews 

 sailed for other districts, leaving only the older fishermen to fish the 

 local waters. In October small shoals of immature herrings frequented 

 the grounds near Ardlamont and Lochgair, but, as there was no demand 

 for these, only a small quantity was landed. During Decem- 

 ber herrings entered Lochkylesport, on the western seaboard 

 of the district, but owing to continued stormy weather operations 

 were carried on with the greatest difl&culty, and the landings were 

 of little importance. 



The total catch for the district amounted to only 2192 crans, 

 compared with 4672 crans in 1911. 



The herrings caught in Lochkylesport, as well as those taken from 

 Loch Fyne during July and August, were of good quality, but during 

 the rest of the season the quality was, as a rule, inferior. Prices varied 

 from 2s. 6d. to 65s. per cran, the average price being 19s. lOd., com- 

 pared with 14s. 3d. in 1911. 



Curing operations were conducted on a very limited scale. In all 

 216 barrels were cured, three-fourths of which were credited to 

 Ardrishaig and the remainder to Tarbert. All were disposed of in 

 the surrounding district at prices varying from 20s. to 35s. per barrel. 



Dense shoals of mackerel appeared in all parts of Loch Fyne during 

 the months of June, July, and August. The season runs simultane- 

 ously with that of the herring fishing, and the method of capture is the 

 same, i.e., ordinary seine and drift nets. This fishing was never 

 vigorously prosecuted, and but for the failure of the herring fishing 

 would have received less attention. The quantity landed was 3387 

 cwts., valued at £642, an increase of 1934 cwts\ and £366 when 

 compared with the figures for the preceding year. The quality was 

 mixed, and prices ranged from Is. 6d. to 8s. per cwt. The whole catch 

 was despatched to the markets in a fresh state. 



Owing to a number of district crews having been engaged at herring 

 fishing from Stranraer, the line fishing season was considerably cur- 

 tailed, with the result that the landings were slightly less than those 

 of the previous year. The catch consisted almost entirely of codlings, 

 nearly all of which were disposed of locally, 

 p 



