Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xliii 



In Loch Broom district last year 2474 barrels were cured, being West Coast 

 an increase of 1348 on 1882. For some years past the fishing p^ ng 

 has not been productive in this district, and many of the native lblc 21_ 

 boats in consequence went elsewhere last year. DistVc?°° m 



Loch Carron and Skye district, which, during the last few years, Loch Carron 

 rose to be one of the most productive districts on the west ^.j^ 6 

 coast, experienced a very great falling off during the whole of last Only io',42i 

 season, the number of barrels cured being only 10,421, against 77733 

 77,783 in 1882. In consequence of the heavy takes which had been mi882. ' 

 got in Loch Hourn in the two previous years, great hopes were 

 entertained that it would again afford a rich harvest. Fishing Arrangements 

 boats from many places congregated there in large numbers. for Season. 

 Vessels came from other stations to buy the herrings which it was 

 expected would be caught; steamers arrived to carry them away ; 

 and heavy expenses were otherwise incurred. Unfortunately, Failure of 

 however, the anticipated success was not realised. The fishing Loch Ho^m 

 was begun in July. It opened very badly, and notwithstanding 

 the fact that all through the season it scarcely ever yielded any 

 return, it was carried on till the end of December, in the hope that it 

 would improve. All, however, was to no purpose : the season ended 

 as badly as it had begun. Large shoals of herrings lying outside Large shoals 

 the loch, and beyond the other usual fishing ground, were observed by at Sea# 

 passing vessels and steamers, but they never came within reach of 

 the fishermen. An unusually large quantity of mackerel appeared Mackerel in 

 in Loch Hourn, and good takes were secured, but there was almost Loch Hourn - 

 no market for them, and they had sometimes to be thrown back 

 into the sea. It is understood that mackerel feed largely on young 

 herring, and many fishermen believe that herrings will not remain 

 on the same ground with mackerel, and that they never enter a sea Mackerel 

 loch where these fish are numerous. If this belief is well founded, keepHerring 

 the failure of the fishing in Loch Hourn last year may be fully away, 

 accounted for. 



The fishing in Fort-William district was moderately successful, Fort-William 

 and again shows an improvement on that of the preceding year. 

 The number of barrels cured was 9968^, being 41 10^ more than in Fining? 

 1882. The stations which yielded the best returns were Loch 

 Nevis and Loch Buy. Some boats from Loch Fyne began fishing Fishing by 

 in Loch Nevis with the seine-trawl net, but this, although a Nete caused 

 perfectly legal mode of fishing, was so strongly objected to by the Disturbance, 

 native fishermen that they endeavoured forcibly to prevent its 

 continuance, and serious disturbances arose in consequence, not- 

 withstanding that H.M. cutter 'Daisy 'was stationed there. It 'Jackal' sent 

 was therefore deemed necessary to instruct H.M.S. ' Jackal ' to 0 rd e e r. t0re 

 proceed to the loch. After her arrival, order was completely re- 

 stored. It may be here mentioned that when the herring fishery How Seine- 

 is prosecuted with the seine-trawl net, two skiffs always work Tra ™ 1 Net is 

 together, each having a crew of four men. 



In Inveraray district fishing was prosecuted last year all over Inveraray 

 Lower Loch Fyne up to Loch Gair, and occasionally in Kilbrannan Dli,tllct 

 Sound. It became general in June, and was continued with little in- Length of 



0 Season. 



