of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 



5^ 



fleet earned little more than sufficient to pay expenses, and a consider- 

 able number of boats left for the East Coast fishing about the middle of 

 June. The quality of the herrings was rather poor until about the first 

 week of June, but after that date good quality was invariably the rule. 

 The best fish were obtained ofi InishtrahuU and Skerry vore. Prices 

 ranged from the maximum controlled price of £6, 6s. to as low as 5s. per 

 cran, and it may be remarked that while the price of fresh herrings was as 

 low as 5s. per cran, the price of kippered herrings was up to 10s. per box. 

 The bulk of the herrings was sent to the English markets sprinkled or iced, 

 but 4152 crans were kippered and 451 barrels of matjes were cured. For 

 the period 1st April to 30th June, Mallaig accounted for 15,111 crans, 

 valued at £54,217, and Oban 15,706 crans, valued at £56,328. 



The fishing was carried on by a limited fleet of from 6 to 12 steam 

 drifters and 10 to 20 motor boats until September. Fair results were ob- 

 tained chiefly on the Coll Bank, and the few boats that remained on the 

 West Coast at this season made good earnings. Thereafter the fishing was 

 practically suspended until November, when a few boats made a commence- 

 ment at the winter fishing at Mallaig, and by December a fleet of 30 steam 

 drifters and 25 motor boats were engaged. Herrings were found plentiful 

 in Loch Glendhu and also in Loch Snizort and Loch Brittle. Heavy 

 catches were the rule, several vessels grossing up to £600 for one shot, while 

 one boat grossed £1100 for three shots, and the earnings of several boats 

 reached £2500 for this period. The quality was very mixed, but there was 

 a keen demand for the fish, and prices ranged chiefly from 60s. to 85s. per 

 cran. 



Great-line fishing was carried on at Mallaig and Oban from January 

 until May. The fleet consisted of steam and motor liners from Aberdeen, 

 Fraserburgh, and Anstruther districts. The line fleet operated chiefly 

 from Cape Wrath to Stoer Head and from Barra Head to Tiree, while a few 

 of the boats working from Oban made trips towards the Mull of Kintyre. 

 Good shots of cod, ling, eels, halibut, skate, and roker were obtained, and 

 liners made gross earnings of from £2800 downwards. The decrease in the 

 catch of line fish compared with the previous year may be accounted for 

 by the fact that a number of Aberdeen liners which fished constantly on 

 the W est Coast during the three preceding years left to carry on operations 

 from the home port. 



Several small steam trawlers from Aberdeen operated from Mallaig 

 during the spring and autunrn with good success, while several Granton 

 trawlers landed their catches at Oban. 



Lobster fishing was carried on with good results, and the returns show 

 an increase of 25,698 lobsters and of £1706 in value. 



There was no loss of life among the local fishermen. 



Unlike the chief Scottish herring fishing centres, which sufiered serious 

 loss on account of the war, the ports of Mallaig and Oban were almost 

 immune from restrictions, and had unprecedented success owing to the other 

 ports being practically closed. It can hardly be expected that these 

 ports can maintain the position they reached during the years 1915 to 1919. 

 The industry in this district is chiefly engaged in supplying the home mar- 

 kets, and the outlook for the future may be termed bright. The improve- 

 ment of transport facilities to the various English centres is a question 

 which deserves serious consideration in order that fresh fish may reach 

 the areas of consumption more rapidly. 



James Young, 



Fishery Officer, 



Fishery Office, 

 Oban, Vlth January 1920, 



