of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



227 



Very little was, therefore, done until the first week of February, when a 

 good fishing was landed at Uig and Kyle of Lochalsh. The fishing was 

 carried on until the end of February, and closed with a total of 2727 crans 

 and a value of £2385, against 5354 crans and a value of £6127 in 1910. 



White fishing receives little or no attention from the district fishermen, 

 and was engaged in chiefly for the purpose of obtaining a supply of fish for 

 local consumption or bait for lobster creels. No cod or ling were cured 

 during the year. 



The summer and autumn herring fishing was commenced by a few crews 

 in July. Very little, however, was done during the first part of the season, 

 and it was not until the month of October that any successful fishing was 

 made. Most of the lochs round Skye received a trial, but the fishing 

 grounds which proved most productive were Loch Snizort and round the 

 island of Scalpa, and a successful fishing was made in October by the fleet 

 operating from Uig and Kyle of Lochalsh on these grounds. The, fishing 

 continued until the close of the year with varying success. There was no 

 scarcity of herrings during November and December, and some heavy takes 

 were landed, but crews were not able to prosecute the fishing regularly on 

 account of stormy weather. The herring fishing is accountable for a decrease 

 of 16,666 cwts. and £10,071 in the district returns, attributable to the 

 non-success of the fishing during November and December. Owing to the 

 uncertainty of herrings appearing in the same loch for a succession of years, 

 curers cannot be induced to make preparations in the way of erecting stations 

 for carrying on the fish curing industry, and, consequently, the bulk of the 

 catch was sent to other localities, chiefly Stornoway, in a roused condition, 

 to be prepared for export. Considerable quantities caught in the district 

 lochs by steam drifters and the larger sailing boats, which might otherwise 

 have been landed in the locality, were also taken to other ports. 



The number of boats employed at the herring fishing was 210. 



The earnings of motor skiffs employed ranged about £200, and the best- 

 fished sailing skiff grossed £166. 



Mackerel fishing was prosecuted from Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree during 

 the months of September and October, with moderate success. The price 

 of mackerel was lower than during 1910, the average price being 12s. 5d. 

 per cran, against 16s. 2d. per cran last year. Kesults show a decrease of 

 2613 cwts. in quantity and £945 in value. 



Lobster fishing was actively engaged in during the year, and the returns 

 show a result similar to last year's. The value of shell-fish, however, shows 

 a decrease of £500, owing to the fact that a less quantity of whelks, to the 

 extent of 2348 cwts., were sent to the English markets. 



The making of quarter cran measures was carried on at Kilmuir, Skye, 

 and resulted in a total of 1696 baskets being branded. 



Fortunately no lives were lost in connection with the prosecution of the 

 fisheries. 



In reviewing the work of the past year, it is satisfactory to note that the 

 progressive movement noticeable during the last few years in the total yield 

 of the fisheries of this district continues. The gross increase in the landings 

 amounts to 26,113 cwts. Unfortunately, however, the value has not 

 expanded in ratio, the difference being only £1498 in favour of the year 

 under review, exclusive of shell-fish, This somewhat unsatisfactory feature 



Fishery Office, 

 Kyle, 8th January 1912. 



James Young, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fort- William District. 



p 



