XXXll 



Fourth Annual Report of the 



The 



summer fishino: 



began 



last year about the 



Winter Fish- 

 ing — Its pro- 

 sperity. 



Grounds 

 lished. 



middle of July, 



and was prosecuted until the 10th of September. About 62 boats 

 were at one time employed, but 40 was the average number. The 

 greater part of the catch was taken at a distance of from 12 to 

 40 miles off-shore. The largest take was 86 crans, and the best 

 week of the season yielded 1110 crans. The average catch per boat 

 was 128 crans, as against 153 in 1884. The herrings taken were of 

 unusually poor quality, and contained a large proportion of spent 

 fish. The total catch of the fishing was 5120 crans. As in 

 recent years, Dunbar and Newhaven were the only stations in 

 the district where the summer fishing was carried on. The winter 

 herring fishing was prosecuted with good success from October 1884 

 till March 1885, when it was discontinued. The fish landed were of 

 fairly good quality, and were chiefly caught between Inchkeith and 

 Queensferry. 100 boats were employed. Their total catch was 

 5505 crans, the greater part of which was consumed fresh. 



Ansthuther District. 



Boundary of From Buckhaven to the south side of Tay, both inclusive. 



District Fishery Office— Anstruther. 



575 First-class In Anstruther district, 575 first-class decked boats were fitted 

 Boats. Q^t; last year for the summer herring fishery, but only 14 remained 



Nearly all at home ; the others prosecuted the industry at different stations 

 lished ^-^Q E^gt Coast, from Shields, in England, to the Shetland Isles. 



Summer Fish- The Summer fishing commenced about 13th July, and was 

 ing moderately moderately successful. The largest takes of herrings, and those of 

 successful. ^^^^ quality, were got in the latter end of that month, about 20 



miles east of the Island of May. The boats made repeated visits to 

 Particulars the distant fishing grounds, 40 to 60 miles at sea ; but very few 

 thereof. herrings were caught there, nor were many found on the in-shore 

 grounds in the Firth of Forth. The total summer catch landed in 

 the district amounted to 4021 crans, but more than half of it was 

 brought by boats from the Aberdeenshire fishing grounds, from 

 which they had been driven by stress of weather. The winter 

 Great success herring fishing w^as more successful than in any former season, 

 of Winter 220 boats Were employed, and no fewer than 40,636 crans 

 ^'^ were taken. The herrings were of a fair average quality, and. 



Disposal of with the exception of a small portion which was bloated or 

 Herrings. kippered, they were all sent to the home markets in a fresh state. 



The prices were sometimes so low that the cost of railway 

 Railway Carriage to the markets was considerably more than what was 

 Carriage more paid to the fishermen for the herrings. The industry was prose- 

 ti|an paid for ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ Firth of Forth, but principally near Fife Ness 

 Groundsfished. and the Island of May. 



Montrose District. 



Boundary of From the north side of Tay to Bervie, both inclusive. 



District. 



District Fishery Office — Montrose. 

 Number of During 1885 Montrose district had 113 boats engaged in the 



Boats. 



