xlviii 



Fourth Annual Report of the 



Increase per The increasing productiveness of the herring fishery of Scotland 

 cent, of year^ is shown by these returns to be of a very remarkable character, 

 age of^preced- The gross number of barrels cured in 1885, when compared with 

 "f^w'fi, ^tie average of the preceding ten years, shows an increase of 43*37 

 and^iifty^^' percent; when compared with the average of the preceding 25 

 yeai-s. years, it shows an increase oE 78*65 per cent ; and of the preceding 



50 years, 120*32 per cent. The extraordinary development of the 

 fishery becomes even more striking on the fact being borne in 

 mind, which has been stated in previous Keports, that in the year 

 1809, when the first returns were compiled by the former Fishery 

 Great Develop. Board, the whole number of barrels cured was only 90,185 J; while 

 Fishlr^/ since number cured last year, as shown above, was 1,572,952J. 



1809. 



HERKINGS CURED ON BOARD OF VESSELS AND 

 ON SHORE. 



Vessels ; and Table 1. Appendix A, shows the number of vessels fitted out in 

 Board.^^^^^^ Scotland last year for the herring fishery ; the districts from which 

 they were fitted out ; their tonnage and the number of men ; the 

 quantity of netting, salt and empty barrels shipped ; and the total 

 number of barrels of white herrings cured on board ; distinguishing 

 those cured gutted from those cured ungutted. 



Herrings cured Table II. Appendix A, shows the number of barrels of white 

 on Shore. herrings cured or salted in Scotland last year by fish-curers on shore, 

 and the districts in which they were cured; distinguishing fche 

 herrings cured gutted from those cured ungutted. f.inir.o I 



Total of 

 Herrings cured 

 in Vessels and 

 on Shore. 



Herrings cured 

 on West Coast 



' Table III. Appendix A, shows the total number of barrels of white 

 herrings cured or salted in Scotland last year, both on board of 

 vessels and on shore, distinguishing the herrings cured gutted from 

 those cured ungutted. To this table is added a supplementary 

 note, showing the number of barrels cured or salted last year on 

 the West Coast of Scotland, as stated according to the districts 

 where the herrings were caught. .'aM liJod ao ,G8«i m bsix/o 



\ ' ■ ' ^ v.^ '-^'f m 



boiieq '^'^X 



Number of 

 Barrels 

 Branded 

 larger than in 

 any previous 

 year. 



Herrings often' 

 not in good 

 condition for 

 Curing. 



BRANDING OF HERRINGS. 



After examination by the Board's ofiicers, 689,325 barrels' of th*©' 

 herrings cured during 1885 were found entitled to the brand, being 

 35,900 more than the number branded in 1884. This is the largest 

 number of barrels ever branded in any one year — a fact which 

 affords most pleasing proof of the growing estimation in which the 

 standard of cure required by the Board is held. Such increased 

 demand for branded herrings is all the more gratifying, seeing 

 that the gross number of barrels cured during 1885 was 124,125 

 less than in 1884. Had it not been that during last season the 

 fishing boats, owing to their being frequently detained at sea by 

 calms and fogs, were often prevented from landing their herrings 

 in a sufficiently fresh state to be properly cured, the number of 

 barrels branded would undoubtedly have been even greater than 



