Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xli 



the average of the preceding 10 years, it shows an increase ^^ {ggg^^^^Jg 

 4612 per cent. ; of 25 years, 87*06 per cent. ; and of 50 years, cedmg^io,'^2o, 



123-96 per cent. and 50 years. 



WEST COAST HERKING FISHERY. 



The nine fishery districts on the West Coast of Scotland are : — Nine ^^^^^ 

 Stornoway, Loch Broom, Loch Carron and Skye, For t- Will iam, District^" 

 Campbeltown, Inveraray, Eothesay, Greenock, and Ballantrae. 



Stoenoway District. 



The Islands of Lewis, Harris, North Uist, Benbeciila, South Uist, Barra, and Boundary of 

 the smaller Islands within this range ; also St Kilda. District. 



District Fishery Office — Stornoway. 



Stornoway district had a successful herring fishing in 1885, the Fishing 

 gross catch having been among the highest it had ever reached, ^ successful, 

 fleet of 1081 boats was employed in the industry, being 86 fewer Boats 

 than in the preceding year. About 200 of these were native boats. ^°^pioye^- 

 The remainder came from numerous other places. The average 

 fishing of the whole district, was 87 crans for each boat. Of the 

 two sections into which the district is divided, Stornoway section 

 had 591 boats, and Barra 490, and their estimated average catches Average 

 were 64 and 100 crans per boat respectively. The fishing was ^-^l^l^^l 

 begun by a few boats early in May, and became general about the Sections. 

 20th of that month. It was closed at the end of June, with the Duration of 

 exception that a few native boats continued fishing, and with good Fishing, 

 success, until the middle of September. The total quantity of 

 herrings cured at the twelve stations in the district was 114,7811 Barrels cured, 

 barrels, as against 116,010J in 1884. In Stornoway section, as is 

 usually the case, the best fishing grounds at the commencement of the 

 season lay from 10 to 40 miles north-east of the Butt of Lewis, and Grounds fished 

 midway between the Butt and Cape Wrath. By far the heaviest takes, s^cUon^°^^^ 

 and the largest portion of the season's catch, were brought from the 

 vicinity of the small Island of North Eona, lying about 40 miles north- 

 east of the Butt ; but the herrings caught on this distant fishing 

 ground were generally of inferior quality, as compared with those 

 got nearer land or in the Minch. From the end of June to the 

 middle of September, herrings appeared in large quantities, and of 

 good quality, from 4 to 10 miles off Stornoway. [n Barra section, Grounds fished 

 the principal fishing grounds lay on the west, or Atlantic side of g^^^f^Y^^ 

 the Island, 20 to 30 miles at sea. The best day's fishing was got 

 on the 20th June, when 390 boats averaged 18 crans each. Towards 

 the end of the season, good fishing was obtained in the Little Minch, 

 4 to 5 miles off-shore. The curers asked that the fishing should not 

 begin before 20th May, and this having been generally agreed to by 

 the fishermen, the quality of the herrings taken was better in 

 1885 than in the preceding season. 58,513| barrels were exported Barrels 

 direct to the Continent, of which 43,899 went to St Petersburg, f^^^^l^ 

 (yured early herrings from the district of Stornoway sometimes Continent, 

 bring large prices on the Continent, where they are greatly prized. 



