of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



85 



February, owing chiefly to heavier fishings at all ports, prices were 

 considerably lower. The quality of the herrings from the northern 

 grounds was unsatisfactory, and in many cases the presence of a foul 

 gut caused them to deteriorate rapidly, while owing to the long distance 

 the herrings were often " overdays " when landed. The herrings caught 

 on the grounds from Tiree to the Irish Coast were of good quality. 

 Prices for the season ranged from 5s. to £7, 12s. per cran, averaging 

 £2, 12s. 6d. The best gross earnings of steam drifters were about 

 £1200, but for many the season was unprofitable. The bulk of the 

 catch was despatched fresh to the English markets. 



Great lining was carried on with good results from about the end 

 of January to the 1st of April, when the coal stoppage interrupted 

 fishing. About a dozen boats made Oban their headquarters and 

 operated chiefly from Colonsay to the Mull of Kintyre, and about 20 

 boats with headquarters at Mallaig worked from the Butt of Lewis 

 to off Ushinish Point. Good shots of cod, eels and roker were secured 

 on all these grounds. Special mention might be made of the success 

 of a few of the Mallaig boats fishing chiefly for hake off South Rona, 

 where the fish were caught in a small patch of deep water. Prices 

 were good, especially for hake, which often realised from £10 to 

 £15, 78. 6d. per score. The most successful liner grossed about £1200 

 and the earnings of the majority ranged from £700 to £1000. A 

 few motor boats began herring fishing at Mallaig and Oban about the 

 end of May and worked chiefly off Canna, Hyskeir and Muldoanich, 

 and on Coll Bank, but steam drifters were unable to secure fuel and 

 resume fishing until about July. The results were disappointing for 

 the greater part of the season, but high prices enabled crews to work 

 with a slight profit. 



There was a good appearance of herrings throughout the season 

 between Barra Head and Tiree, but fishing did not become general 

 until the middle of August, when a number of heavy shots up to 

 128 crans were secured on these grounds, ranging in value from £200 

 to £500. Prices ruled high, chiefly owing to the keen demand for 

 cured matjes. The herrings were of a fair size but lacked fat and 

 flavour, and with heavier landings in August there was a sharp fall in 

 prices. The top price paid was £7, 18s. and the average for the season 

 £2, 16s. 9d. per cran. The majority of the boats had a successful 

 fishing with gross earnings ranging up to £1700. The bulk of the 

 catch was cured for export to the American markets, and as high as £6 

 per barrel was offered for cured matjes. 



Herring fishing was re-commenced at Mallaig by a few motor boats 

 in November, when the fleet operated chiefly in the Skye lochs, but 

 herrings were found rather scarce and of poor quality, and prices ruled 

 low, ranging from 5s. to 26s. per cran. Towards the end of December 

 a few drifters landed shots ranging from 40 to 162 crans from the 

 Stornoway grounds and from the vicinity of Loch Laxford, where the 

 demand was better and prices reached 62s. 6d. per cran. 



Several East Coast drifters operated with the Danish seine net from 

 Mallaig during November and December, but for the most part with 

 little success, owing apparently to the rocky nature of the sea bottom. 



Campbeltown. — In the opening months of the year the winter 

 herring fishing was extremely successful, whereas the summer and 

 autumn fishings yielded but poor results in spite of fine weather, which 

 enabled crews to prosecute them diligently. During the second week in 

 January heavy catches were secured by "ringing " in the middle of the 

 Sound between Davaar and Brown Head, Arran, where the seine net had 



