S4 



Appendices to Fortieth Annual Report 



Herrings throughout the year were scarce arid their movements 

 erratic, which made operations desultory, and except at the end of the 

 year, they were thin and dry, and not suitable for curing. The winter 

 herring fishing opened towards the end of January with a catch from 

 Loch Nedd. 



In August the Badachro motor fleet proceeded to Lewis and Skye, 

 and during November fishing commenced in Loch Inchard, which con- 

 tinued with intervals of slackness and stormy weather until the end of 

 the year. The herrings, often in dense shoak, were caught by local 

 yawls, and taken by steam drifters to Stornoway and Wick. 



Fewer crews operated small and hand lines, while dogfish frequented 

 the shores from October to December. This fishing, however, only 

 supplies local needs, as consignments are now unremunerative. The 

 lobster fishing was prosecuted on every available occasion, and despite 

 much loss of gear and unfavourable weather, the results were not far 

 short of the record landings of the previous year. 



Loch Carron and Skye. — At first sight the reduction recorded in 

 the district fleet would appear seriously to affect the catching power, 

 but in reality it represents boats which, instead of being struck off 

 the register gradually since 1914, were used so long as they would float, 

 but are now unseaworthy. 



Herring fishing operations were less extensive than in recent years. 

 In January a small fleet of East Coast boats had good catches, but 

 prices fluctuated from 7s. 6d. to 114s. per cran. Many buyers left 

 Kyle on hearing of good results at East Coast ports, and the absence 

 of competition caused crews to seek other markets. A slump in the 

 kipper market at the end of the month further discouraged operations, 

 and the total results of the winter fishing were poor. 



Seine net boats had better results during the early summer, but 

 prices were low, and a further decrease occurred later. Landings during 

 the November-December fishing were also very short, owing to the 

 non-arrival of East Coast crews. A few steam drifters commenced 

 operations in December and had fair results, but demand was poor. 

 The herring fishing results at outlying creeks were also very disappoint- 

 ing, but the shortage for the year occurred mainly at Kyle. The 

 herrings caught daring the latter part of the year were of poor quality 

 and unsuitable for kippering, now that only superior kippers are again 

 in demand. 



Fixed ground net fishing was generally unremunerative, and fishermen 

 stated that although fish, chiefly saithe, were abundant, it did not pay 

 to catch them owing to the high railway rates and low prices realised. 



Seine net fishing for herrings is becoming more popular amongst 

 owners of motor boats, and eight additional crews adopted this type 

 of gear. No other developments have taken place in the industry. 



Fort- William. — The winter herring fishing again commenced about 

 the 1st of January, continuing until about the end of February. A 

 fleet of 50 steam drifters and 15 motor boats operated from Mallaig 

 and Oban. At Mallaig the steam drifters worked chiefly on the 

 Stornoway grounds, and also off Bulgie Island and as far as Whiten 

 Head, and the motor boats in the Skye lochs and on Coil Bank. The 

 Oban boats operated off Skerryvore, Dhu Artach and Tiree, while a 

 few drifters made trips to the grounds off the North of Ireland. This 

 fishing, as is usual, was occasionally hindered by stormy weather, but 

 it proved fairly successful during January, when heavy takes were 

 landed, and as high as £7, 12s. per cran was obtained. During 



