Fishery Board for Scotland. 



XXIX 



year, both while the bye-law is in force and after its repeal. In 

 addition to this trawling work, if sufficient funds are provided, 

 observations will be made as to the abundance of eggs and young 

 fish at various depths throughout the year ; the influence which the 

 presence of Crustacea and other forms has on the number of food 

 fishes at any given time ; and further, large numbers of artificially 

 hatched fish will be introduced into the enclosed areas to ascer- 

 tain whether the yield of the in-shore waters can be increased, and 

 also if it is possible to determine when the more important food 

 fishes reach maturity. 



HERRING FISHERY. 



The Herring Fishery of 1885 was, with the single exception of 

 1884, the most abundant ever known. The following statement 

 shows the quantity of herrings cured in each of the last six 

 years : — 



Years. 



1880, 

 1881, 

 1882, 

 1883, 

 1884, 

 1885, 



Barrels cured. 



1,473,6001 

 1,111,1551 

 1,282,9731 

 1,269,4121 

 1,697,0771 

 1,572,9521 



Banels cured 

 in last six 

 years. 



These returns show that the number of barrels cured in 1885 

 was 124,125 less than 1884, or 7*89 per cent ; but that it was 

 greater than the average number cured in the preceding five years by 

 206,108J barrels, or 15"07 per cent. The deficiency in 1885, as 

 against 1884, was wholly caused by a decrease in the number 

 of barrels cured on the East Coast of 137,0681. On the West 

 Coast there was an increase of 12,9431 barrels, by which the 

 deficiency on the gross number cured in the year was reduced 

 to 124,125 barrels as stated above. 



The particulars of the results of the fishing of last year, when 

 compared with those of 1884, in the herrings cured, branded, and 

 exported, and in the amount of brand fees received, are 

 follow : — 



as 



Decrease in 

 1885 from 1884. 



Increase on 

 average of five 

 years. 



Decrease on 

 East Coast, 

 but increase on 

 West Coast. 



Results of 1884 

 and 1885 com- 

 pared. 



Years. 



Barrels 

 Cured. 



Barrels 

 Branded. 



Barrels 

 Exported. 



Brand Fees. 



1884, 

 1885, 



l,697,077i 

 1,572,9521 



653,425 

 689,325 



1,185,2201 

 1,128,5894 



£10,890 8 4 

 11,488 15 0 



Increase in 1885, 

 Decrease in 1885, 



124,125 



35,900 



56,631 



£598 6 8 



