of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



229 



from Rothesay. The crews had a slightly better season than last year. 

 The bulk of the catches was secured south of Bute and in mid-channel 

 east of Bute. 



In the capture of herrings seine nets were principally employed, and 

 appear to be most in favour with the fishermen of the district; 4517 

 crans, valued at £6336, were taken by this method of fishing, drift nets 

 accounting for only 78 crans, valued at £207. The quality of the 

 herrings was, on the whole, satisfactory. Prices ranged from 8s. to 

 53s. per cran, the average for the year being 28s. lid., against 20s. in 

 1911 and 23s. 5d. in 1910. 



Fair quantities of mackerel were landed, the total for the year 

 amounting to 1497 cwts., valued at £316, against 2328 cwts., valued 

 at £445, in 1911. All the mackerel were disposed of in a fresh state. 



There is little of importance to report in regard to the white fisheries. 

 During the year 4782 cwts., representing a cash value of £2617, were 

 landed, as compared with 4484 cwts., valued at £2627, last year. This 

 branch of fishing is not now carried on with anything like the same 

 regularity as formerly. A number of fishermen who live at the various 

 Clyde watering-places now devote their attention to boat-hiring during 

 the holiday season. 



The shell-fisheries were not so successful. The lobster fishing, which 

 formerly gave employment to a number of crofter fishermen, and used 

 to be the principal fishing at the south end of Arran, was almost a 

 complete failure. The total value of lobsters landed in the district 

 amounted to £96, against £184 last year. 



During the year three fishing boats, valued at £403, were built by 

 firms in the district. 



There was no loss of life in connection with the fisheries, and damage 

 to boats and gear was trifling. 



The barometers at Lamlash and Lochranza were kept in excellent 

 order by the custodians. 



Fishery Office, Donald Skinner 



Glasgow, January 1913. Fishery Officer. 



Greenock District. 



During the year just closed the fisheries of this district were carried 

 on on much the same lines as in recent years. 



Compared with 1911, the total results show an increase of almost 

 £3800, which was chiefly attributable to the increased landings of 

 herrings. The returns of fish caught by lines remained stationary, 

 but there was a falling-off in the landings by steam trawlers. The 

 value of shell-fish landed was almost £220 above the figures for the 

 preceding year. 



A new boat, fitted with a 15-20 h.p. Kelvin motor engine, was 

 added to the fleet, and four other district boats had motors installed 

 during the year. Against this, however, a decrease in the number of 

 sailing boats falls to be recorded, and there have been further cancella- 

 tions in the fishing boats' register since the returns were compiled. The 

 chief causes of those cancellations were that the boats had become too old 

 and unfit for further use, the removal of owners to other places of abode, 

 and the inability of sailing boats to successfully compete with those 

 possessing motor power. 



The herring fishing is the principal branch of the industry carried on 

 within the limits of this district, and although herrings were got almost 

 continuously throughout the year, the bulk of the catch was obtained 

 during the summer months. 



