66 



Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



In the Means of Capture Returns the motor fleet shows an increase of 

 7 boats, while the number of sailers is reduced from 295 to 277. 



The winter herring fishing was carried on from the end of January 

 to the middle of March, chiefly from Castlebay and Lochboisdale, by a 

 fleet of 6 motor boats and 25 sailers. The weather was stormy, and 

 fishing operations were thereby greatly hampered. The Castlebay fleet 

 worked from Muldoanich to Barra Head, and the Lochboisdale fleet off 

 Ushinish and in Loch Eynort. Catches ranged from 40 crans downwards. 

 The quality was good, and prices ranged from 20s. to 61s. per cran. Herrings 

 were found in Loch Skipport and Loch Carnan during the months of 

 January and February, and a number of small open boats made a successful 

 fishing in these lochs. The herrings were disposed of to carrying steamers 

 from Mallaig at prices ranging from 40s. to 50s. per cran. The winter 

 fishing closed with a total of 1727 crans valued at £3960. Of the catch, 

 718 barrels were cured gutted, 406 barrels cured ungutted, and 851 crans 

 freshed, the last being chiefly bought by carrying steamers. 



The early summer herring fishing commenced about the end of April, 

 but little was done until the end of May. The fleet consisted of 11 local 

 motor boats and 16 sailers. Herrings were found fairly plentiful from 

 Ushinish to Barra Head, but the motor boats with the best catches in- 

 variably proceeded to Mallaig, where prices ranging from 40s. to 70s. 

 in excess of the price paid at Castlebay or Lochboisdale could be obtained. 



The quality of the herrings was rather poor at the commencement 

 of the season, but improved as the season advanced. Prices ranged from 

 12s. to 60s. per cran. The season closed about the 1st of August with a 

 catch of 1636 crans valued at £3264. Of the catch, 1156 barrels were 

 cured gutted, 26 barrels were cured ungutted, and 754 crans carried away 

 in a fresh state, chiefly by carrying steamers, to Mallaig and Oban. The 

 earnings of boats fishing from Castlebay and Lochboisdale ranged from 

 £500 downwards for motor boats and £200 for sailers. The few motor 

 boats that worked from Mallaig earned for the year from £500 to £950. 



Line fishing is very much neglected by the fishermen of this district. 

 A few boats — chiefly motor — were fitted out for great line fishing, but 

 landed their catches at Mallaig. Several sail boats made a slight attempt 

 to work great lines and landed a few small shots at Eriskay, where the 

 fish were cured dried. The total quantity of line fish landed amounted 

 to 2478 cwts., valued at £1894. 



Lobster fishing was carried on at most of the creeks throughout the 

 district. The total number of lobsters landed for the year was 52,788, 

 valued at £6563, an increase or 15,259 lobsters and £4320. The value 

 of unclassified shell-fish shows an improvement to the extent of £87. 



Fortunately there were no lives lost in connection with the fisheries 

 of the district. The mail steamer " Plover " was attacked by a German 

 submarine off the island of Rum on the last day of July, shots being 

 exchanged between the submarine and mail steamer. The action was 

 broken off by the submarine. 



James Young, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Oban, 16^ January 1919. 



Loch Broom District. 



A further decrease in the total quantity of fish landed in this district 

 falls to be recorded for 1918 as compared with 1917. White fish were 

 more plentiful and the landings were much better, but herrings were 



