xliv 



Fourth Annual Report of the 



aloug Kilbranuan Sound ; and the best takes were got in the 

 weeks ending 19th September and 10th October, which yielded 

 4790 and 476-1 crans respectively. Upon the 12th September a 

 crew of eight men with two boats, using circle or seine-nets, landed 

 ofseLI^Le?^^ ^"^^ crans, which realised £480. During the season, several other 



Boats. 



crews of eight men, also with two boats and seine-nets, realised 

 from £1000 to £2000 for the herrings which they captured. 

 Although prices were much lower than in former years, the total 

 value of the season's catch was estimated to be worth £67,000. 

 As many as 21 buying steamers were employed in conveying the 

 herrings from the boats at the fishing grounds to Glasgow, for dis- 

 to^Gks?ow^^^ tribution over the country. The quality of the fish taken during 

 by Steamers, the year was superior. 



Value of 

 Season's 

 Fishing. 



Boundary of 

 District. 



Fishing Fleet. 



Barrels cured. 



Success of 



Seine-net 



Boats. 



Failure of 

 Drift-net 

 Boats. 

 Grounds 

 Fished. 

 Quality of 

 Loch Fyne 

 Herrings. 



Prices. 



Herrings sent 

 to Glasgow and 

 England. 



Inveeaeay District. 



From Oban to Tayinloan, both exclusive ; including the lochs and islands 

 within this range of coast, and from Skipness Point and Ardlamont Point, 

 both exclusive, for both sides of Loch Fyne, to the head of the Loch. 



District Fishery Office — Ardrishaig. 



In Inveraray district a fleet of 264 boats was employed in the 

 herring fishing of 1885. About two-thirds of these boats used 

 seine or circle-nets, and the remainder drift-nets. The industry 

 yielded 26,379 barrels of cured herrings, or 6731 more than 

 in 1884, but last year's produce was under the average of the 

 preceding twenty years. A few boats began fishing in May, and 

 about 2050 crans were landed by 1st June, at which time the 

 regular season commenced. A number of very heavy takes was got 

 by the seine-nets. During the week ending 27th June, two boats 

 using these nets and fishing together, landed a take of no fewer 

 than 338 crans, for which they received £413 ; and on lOtb October 

 other two boats got 315 crans, which were sold for £332. Most of 

 the seine-net boats were successful, but some of them caught very 

 few fish. The drift-net fishing, on the other hand, was a complete 

 failure. The grounds fished extended from Minard in Upper Loch 

 Fyne to Kilbrannan Sound. Large shoals of herrings were found 

 in Loch Fyne, but they left the loch much sooner than usual. The 

 quality of the takes landed was very superior, and fully maintained 

 the high character of . that loch for the excellence of its herrings. 

 Prices were much lower than in previous years, the average being 

 about 25s. per cran. In 1884 the average was 38s. per cran and 

 in 1883, 45s. From 10 to 16 swift steamers were engaged in 

 purchasing the herrings on the fishing grounds as soon as they 

 were caught, which they carried to Glasgow, from whence a large 

 proportion was sent by rail to the English markets. 



Rothesay District. 



Boundary of From Ardlamont Point, inclusive, to Eoseneath Point, exclusive ; inchidin 

 District. i-j^g lochs within this range of coast; also Bute aAd Arran. 



District Fishery Office — Rothesay. 



PisMng Light. The herring fishing still continues light in Kothesay district, 



