of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



223 



which was .£5738, bringing up the total value of all kinds of fish landed to 

 £47,436. When compared with the preceding year this result shows a 

 decrease of 16 per cent, in quantity and 12 per cent, in value. The defi- 

 ciency may be ascribed partly to the variable results experienced in the 

 prosecution of the herring fishery, and partly to the shell-fisheries, which 

 also show a considerable falling ofT. White fish fishing compares favour- 

 ably with the year 1910. The preceding year, however, was one of the 

 poorest on record for line fishing in this district. 



There was little change in the means of capture. The only feature 

 worthy of notice is an increase of six sail boats, five of which were first-class. 

 This increase is explained by the fact that local sail boats of the larger type 

 fared well during the autumn herring fishing of 1910, and naturally 

 preparations were made on a larger scale to have the fleet in a better state 

 of efficiency for the year under review. The area and value of drift nets 

 also shows a slight improvement. The length of lines, however, remains 

 unchanged. Towards the end of the year one first-class sail boat was fitted 

 out with a motor engine as an auxiliary. This is the first boat belonging to 

 the district in which motor power has been installed. Native fishermen 

 now view the power vessel with a more favourable eye, and had they not 

 been so impoverished by preceding bad years, which deprived them of means, 

 auxiliary motor power would be generally adopted in suitable existing sail 

 boats, as the advantages it confers over the ordinary sail boat are now 

 appreciated. 



It was urged from various quarters that it would be advisable to make 

 experiments as to whether a winter herring fishing could be profitably 

 prosecuted, and accordingly an attempt was made to establish one. Several 

 East Coast fish-curers prepared to cure herrings for exportation. Unfor- 

 tunately, weather conditions were much against successful fishing operations, 

 and in consequence very little was done. Only a few steam drifters landed 

 occasional shots of herrings of fair quality from the fishing ground in the 

 vicinity of Skerryvore Lighthouse. The fish were all cured for export, 

 chiefly to the Lower Baltic ports. Looking to the proximity of this port to 

 the winter herring fishing grounds, and the ample fish-curing accommodation 

 on shore, it is anticipated that in future more attention will be given to 

 herring fishing during the winter months. 



Great-line fishing was prosecuted in the spring months by local sail boats. 

 During the greater part of the season stormy weather was experienced. 

 Fish also appeared to be scarce on the coast, especially on the inshore 

 grounds in the vicinity of the Island of Muldoanich, where the local fisher- 

 men generally prosecute their calling. The bulk of the fish landed consisted 

 of cod, ling, and eels. Owing to the improved condition of the dried salt 

 fish markets, cod and ling were in good demand for drying purposes, with 

 the result that prices for the fresh article advanced approximately 18 per 

 cent, per cwt. on the preceding year. 



The early summer herring fishing, which is the principal branch of the 

 fisheries, commenced at Castlebay and Loch Boisdale in the second week in 

 May. At the commencement of the season few curing stations were 

 prepared to receive herrings. Fish-curers were chary of commencing their 

 season's curing operations with the early fish after the unsatisfactory results 

 experienced with the May cure of the preceding year, By the beginning of 

 June, however, most of the fish-curers were in readiness for the curing of 

 herrings for exportation. The fleet operating consisted on an average of 45 

 steam drifters and 100 sail drifters. The fishing was not attended with 

 much success, light catches being the general rule. At the commencement 

 of the season the herrings were of indifferent quality, but towards the end 

 of May the fish improved considerably and would compare favourably with 

 former years. The fishing grounds frequented were in the vicinity of 

 Skerryvore, Coll Bank, and Heisker. Several attempts were made on the 



