xlii 



Fourth Annual Report of the 



High prices 

 realised there. 



Herrings 

 kippered and 

 sold fresh. 



Weather and 

 Loss of Life 

 at Sea. 



Boundary of 

 District. 



Decrease in 

 Fishing. 



When pro- 

 secuted. 

 Boats 

 employed. 



Barrels cured. 



Quality and 

 Prices of 

 Herrings. 

 Steamers. 



Curing 

 Vessels. 



Boundary of 

 District. 



The first shipment sent there last year was from Barra. It con- 

 sisted of 2000 barrels, which realised from £5 to £7 a barrel. A 

 large and increasing trade is carried on in this district in kippering 

 herrings. Last season nearly one fourth of the entire catch, or 

 18,080 crans, was kippered. 5792 crans were sent fresh or lightly 

 salted to the home markets. The weather in 1885 was fully more 

 favourable in the district for fishing than in the average of recent 

 years. Unfortunately no fewer than 18 fishermen were drowned 

 near the Butt of Lewis on the 4th of March, while engaged in the 

 cod and ling fishing. 



Loch Broom District. 



From Cape Wrath to Diobaig, botli exchisive ; including the lochs and islands 

 within this range of coast. 



District Fishery Ofice — Ullapool. 

 The herring fishery in Loch Broom district is entirely prosecuted 

 in the lochs and inland waters by native boats. Its produce, year 

 by year, is extremely fluctuating. For some years previous to 1884 

 the fishing was very poor. In that year it greatly improved ; but 

 last year it again fell off, and only produced about one-half of what 

 it did in 1884. The fishing last season was begun in August, and 

 prosecuted with more or less energy till December. At first only 

 a few boats took part in it; but as other native boats returned from* 

 the East Coast, where they had gone to fish, the number gradually 

 increased until it reached 230. The number of barrels cured in 

 the year amounted to 8948, as against 16,700 in 1884. The quality 

 of the herrings was poor, and the prices for which they sold ranged 

 from 15s. to 21s. per cran. Eight steamers were in the district, 

 and these purchased a large portion of the catch in a fresh state 

 for the home markets. Ten curing vessels were fitted out during 

 the year, for the deep-sea fishing, and they cured on board 5123 

 barrels, or nearly two-thirds of the total quantity cured in the 

 district. 



Loch Carron and Skye District. 



From Diobaig, inclusive, to Loch Nevis, exclusive ; includuig the lochs and 

 smaller islands within this range of coast ; also the islands of Skye, 

 Scalpa, Raasay, Rona, and Croulin. 



District Fishery 



-Broadford. 



Winter and 



Summer 



Fishing: 



When carried 

 on. 



Number of 

 Boats. 

 Grounds 

 Fished. 



Barrels cured. 



Loch Carron and Skye district had a winter and a summer 

 herring fishing in 1885, both of which were fairly successful. The 

 former was carried on in the months of January and February, and 

 also in November and December. Its gross catch amounted to 

 4140 crans, as against only 420 crans in 1884. The summer fish- 

 ing was prosecuted in July, August, and September. At one time 

 264 boats were employed in the district, but 136 was the average 

 number. The herrings were principally caught in the sounds of 

 Scalpa and Raasay ; but very good fishing was got in Lozh Snizort 

 and Loch Dunvegan, and takes were also landed in Loch Ainort 

 and Loch Carron. The fishing in Loch Hourn, which was so 

 abundant three or four year§ ago, was almost a failure last season. 



iill ' 



