Fishery Board for Scotland. 



lix 



of prices which prevailed throughout the year, the estimated 

 value was £28,686 less. The districts which sent the largest 

 quantities of herrings to market in a fresh state were Anstruther, 

 Eyemouth, Fraserburgh, and Shetland; but the quantities for- 

 warded would have been much greater than they were, had it not 

 been that the cost of railway carriage was very high — frequently, 

 indeed, twice as much as the fishermen received for the herrings. 



The sprat fishery yielded 22,426 crans last year, valued at The Sprat 

 £4190, as against 29,929 crans in 1884, the value of which was 

 £5232. This fishing was prosecuted during the winter months, 

 in the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth, in the Firth of 

 Tay, and in the Moray Firth. It was fairly successful in January 

 and February, but it proved a failure in November and I>ecember. 

 The industry was not carried on with much energy, as the prices 

 were low, and the great bulk of the catch could only be disposed 

 of for manure. 



The total quantity of mackerel taken last year was 4128 crans, The Mackerel 

 valued at £3995, showing a decrease from 1884 of 766 crans in ^^^^^^y- 

 quantity, and of £1291 in value. The fish were principally got 

 on the West Coast, which yielded 3528 crans, but the fishing of 

 mackerel can scarcely be said to be prosecuted in Scotland, and 

 those landed last year were mostly caught in nets which had been 

 shot for herrings. 



The quantity of cod sent fresh to market last year showed a The Cod 

 large increase on the previous year. It amounted to 201,108 cwts., ^^^^^^y- 

 valued at £93,456, as against 144,265 cwts. in 1884, valued at 

 £78,947. All the districts contributed more or less to this increase ; 

 but those in which the best fishing was got were Stornoway, Leith, 

 Wick, Austruther, Eyemouth, Buckie, and Aberdeen. 



The quantity of ling landed and consumed fresh last year was The Ling 

 49,090 cwts., valued at £27,219, being an increase on 1884 oi^'^^^'^' 

 17,609 cwts. in quantity, and £8723 in value. The districts in 

 which the largest quantities were landed were Leith, Buckie, Wick, 

 and Anstruther. 



Of torsk (tusk), which are not plentiful on the coasts of Scotland, The Torsic 

 there were only 531 cwts. sent to market in a fresh state last year, (Tusk) Fishery, 

 valued at £181, showing a decrease from 1884 of 406 cwts, in 

 quantity, and £194 in value. Of this catch, more than one half 

 was got in Stornoway district. 



Saith (coal fish) were taken in greater or less quantities The Saith(Coai 

 last year on all the coasts of Scotland. The gross weight landed ^^'^^ 

 for use in a fresh state was 47,096 cwts., valued at £10,406. 

 This was an increase on 1884 of 7064 cwts. in quantity, and £300 

 in value. The most productive districts were Shetland, Stornoway, 

 Wick, and Leith. 



The haddock is the most important of the white fish taken and The Haddock 

 sold fresh in Scotland, both as regards quantity and value. Last ^^^^^^^y- 

 year's haddock fishing was an abundant one, and yielded 522,464 

 cwts., valued at £304,612, being an increase on that of 1884 of 58,415 

 cwts. in quantity, and £3900 in value. The districts which con- 

 tributed most of this increase were Leith, Montrose, Eyemouth, 

 Aberdeen, Buckie, and Anstruther. 



Of whitings, the quantity caught last year was 99,638 cwts.. The whiting 



£, Fishery. 



