Fishery Board for Scotland. 



XXXI 



EAST COAST HERRING FISHERY. 



Following the course which has been adopted for the last three East Coast 

 years, some details will now be given, taken from the reports of ^gfj^^ 

 the inspectors and district officers, regarding the herring fishery of 

 1885, in each of the twenty-six districts into which the coasts 

 of Scotland are divided for fishery purposes, beginning with the 

 seventeen on the East Coast. These are — Eyemouth, Leith, 

 Anstruther, Montrose, Stonehaven, Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraser- Districts, 

 burgh, Banff, Buckie, Findhorn, Cromarty, Helmsdale, Lybster, 

 Wick, Orkney Isles, and Shetland Isles. 



Eyemouth District. 



From Amble, in the county of Northumberland, to the east side of St Abb's Boundary of 

 Head, both inclusive, with Coquet Island, Holy Island, and the Farne Islands. District. 

 District Fishery Office — Berwick-on-Tweed. 

 The herring fishery of 1885 was less productive in Eyemouth Unproductive 

 district than it has been for the preceding eight years. The ^^'^^i^g- 

 number of barrels cured was 54,964 less than in 1884, and 23,000 

 less than the average number cured during the last ten years. 

 Herrings were very scarce on that part of the coast, and unusually Boisterous 

 boisterous weather prevailed in August, the most important fishing Weather, 

 month of the year, when the entire fleet of boats was kept on shore 

 no fewer than ten fishing nights, while only a portion of them 

 were at sea on several other nights. During the season the boats Number of 

 numbered 346, being 80 fewer than were employed in 1884. Boats. 

 The gross takes of each boat ranged from 30 to 300 crans, and 

 the average was 1 14 crans. The best week was that end- Best week, 

 ing 12th September, when the average catch reached 30 crans per 

 boat. The fishing began at Eyemouth in the first week of June, Duration of 

 but it did not become general in the district until the latter half of -^^^^^^s- 

 July, and it was brought to a close on 19th September. An un- Large takes of 

 usually large quantity of mackerel was taken in the herring nets Herring^ Nets, 

 during the early part of the season, and it was believed that 

 mackerel, being on the fishing grounds, kept the herrings away. 

 The quality of the herrings throughout the season was the worst Herrings of 

 ever seen in the district — a large proportion of them consisting of poor quality, 

 small inferior maties. The price varied from 4s. to 48s. per cran — prices of fresh 

 the average being 14s. — and altogether the season was an unprofitable Herrings, 

 one both to fishcurers and to the majority of the fishermen. This 

 will be all the more regretted when it is stated that, owing to a g^^j.^^ ^^d loss 

 storm which arose on the night of 12th August, 600 nets, worth of Netting. 

 £1500, were lost, and that during the second week of September, 

 iQore nets, of the value of £500, were lost or damaged by fouling, 

 or by the weight of fish which they took. About £3700 was paid 

 during the season for steam tugs towing the boats to and from the 33 steam Tugs 

 fishing grounds, and at one time the number of these vessels ij^i^g^^^g 

 employed was no fewer than 33. » - • 



Leith District. 



From the west side of St Abb's' Head, inclusive, westwards, and including all the Boundary of 

 south side of the Firth of Forth ; and its north side to Buckhaven exclusive. District. 



District Fishery Office — Leith. 



Leith district has both a summer and a winter herring fishery. f^^cr^t^rUci?" 



lars thereof. 



