of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



50 



Loch Broom District. 



The returns for this district for the year under review show an increase 

 in the total landings, but a large decrease in the total value, as compared 

 with the previous year. 



The difference in the quantity of fish caught by lines was trifling ; 

 cod-net fishing yielded 2030 cwts. less than in 1918 ; so that the increase 

 has to be sought for in the catch of herrings. 



The shoals which frequented the grounds of Rhu Rhea and Lochs 

 Laxford and Inchard, where such excellent results were obtained during the 

 early winter fishing of the previous year, unfortunately did not again 

 appear, with the result that the catch and value at the end of March were 

 only 923 crans and £1933, compared with 2267 crans and £3649 in 

 1918. The results of the early summer fishing were also disappointing, 

 only 10 crans being landed, and up to the end of November the catch was 

 still far behind that of the previous year. A shoal of herrings was then 

 reported from Cape Wrath section, and a further report came from 

 Drumbeg (the shoal appeared to be working southwards) that the creek 

 of Glendhu was showing great promise. 



About this time herrings were being caught round Islemartin, and 

 hopes were entertained that they would enter Loch Broom where they 

 could be handled more effectually, but these hopes were not fulfilled. 



The craft at work in the district accordingly proceeded to Glendhu, 

 where they were supplemented by craft from other districts, and during the 

 last five weeks of the year 17,454 cwts., valued at £4763, were landed in 

 this district, apart from the large supplies caught by drifters amd motor 

 boats which marketed their catches at Mallaig, Kyle, and Stornoway. 

 This creek proved a small Bonanza to the boats which fished it, as although 

 the herrings were of poor quality control prices were often realised. 



Most of the catch from the local craft was sold either to carriers at 

 from 15s. to 30s. per cran, or to drifters at one half of the price realised 

 at the port of delivery. The earnings of the district skiffs ranged from 

 £70 to £300 for the few weeks, so the earnings of the first-class craft must 

 have been correspondingly large. 



Landings at Ullapool were mostly made by boats fishing in the Minch 

 and northern lochs when a passage could not be made to Kyle or Mallaig. 



The result of the year's herring operations was 26,702 cwts., valued at 

 £8944 — an average price of 22s. 6d. per cran — compared with 19,520 cwts., 

 valued at £9708 — an average price of 34s. lOd. per cran — ^in the previous 

 year. Herrings cured, which are either disposed of in the district or sent 

 coastwise to Glasgow, amounted to 1655 barrels gutted and 181 barrels 

 ungutted. 



The annual cod and saithe net fishing conducted at Badachro from 

 February to April was not nearly so successful as in the previous year. 

 Continued bad weather greatly hampered operations with the result that 

 the catch was only 2759 cwts., of the value of £3804, compared with 4789 

 cwts. and £10,873 in 1918. Unfortunately, the steamer "Cygonie," 

 which carried the catch from Badachro to the railhead at Kyle, was wrecked 

 on the coast of Skye, during a snowstorm towards the end of November. 



Lobster fishing was vigorously prosecuted from most of the creeks, 

 and though the number landed exceeded that in 1918, which was a record 

 year, the price obtained was smaller. 



The quantity of line fish landed shows a slight increase, but the price 

 per cwt. was only 26s. 3d. compared with 37s. 9d. in the previous year. 

 Most of the fish caught in the smaller creeks is consumed locally. 



The Means of Capture altered very slightly. 



Damage to fishing boats and gear included the loss of the motor fishing 



