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Appendices to Thirty- seventh Annual Report 



not very plentiful, bat good weather was experienced and regular landings 

 made and the season's catch shows an increase on that of last year of 

 3101 cwts. The average catch per boat, however, was 72 cwts. less than 

 it was in 1913. Gross earnings ranged up to £650 for motor skirls and 

 to £480 for sailers, while the average over the fleet would be about £400 

 per boat. Only a small proportion of the catch was cured for drying. 

 There was a keen demand for freshing, and prices ranged generally from 

 5s. to 10s. each for cod and 3s. to 5s. each for saithe. 



Line fishing was keenly prosecuted by a few fishermen in all sections 

 of the district, and the value of the catch by this method has been largely 

 enhanced by the despatch of the fish to the southern markets by the 

 fishermen themselves. The returns received by one motor skiff totalled 

 close on £450, while the crew of a small boat of 16 -feet keel earned £320 

 at small and great line fishing. The total catch was 392 cwts. less than 

 last year, but the value shows an increase of £3785. 



Lobster fishermen had a record year's work. Notwithstanding the 

 shortage of men, there was an increase of 5 boats engaged, the high prices 

 received being a great incentive. The result was that the catch exceeded 

 that of 1917 by 27,837 lobsters and the value by £3768. There were 

 47 crews employed, who had an average of £114 per boat, the highest 

 earnings being £300. The average catch for the year was 1091 lobsters, 

 whereas that of 1914 was only 591. 



Herring curing was carried on at Lochclash, Lochinver, Ullapool, and 

 Badachro for the home market by seven firms. 



Very little boat-building was done, and no barrels were manufactured 

 in the district. 



The loss of life and loss of and damage to boats was unfortunately 

 much heavier than usual. A large motor boat used as a carrying vessel 

 was run into and sank with the loss of one of the crew, and a crew of 3 men 

 belonging to Aultbea lost their lives through the foundering of their boat 

 while engaged in line fishing in Loch Ewe. 



The fishing community of the district are in prosperous circumstances 

 as a result of the conditions obtaining during the war. During the past 

 three years the number of fishermen left to man the boats has gradually 

 grown less owing to naval and military requirements, but the increased 

 values received has encouraged those left to a more vigorous prosecution 

 of the industry. Wishing gear has been both scarce and costly, but even 

 when due allowance is made for this and the fact that, except in the case 

 of lobsters and line fish sent to market by themselves, the fishermen, owing 

 to the lack of transport facilities in the district, received only from 50 per 

 cent, to 60 per cent, of the prices paid in other districts more fortunately 

 situated, the earnings were such as to enable the people to live in comfort 

 in spite of the heavy cost of food. All the first-class and a large number 

 of the second- and third-class boats have been laid up for want of crews, 

 but with demobilisation now in progress it is hoped that the catching 

 power of the district will soon return to normal. 



J as. Mair, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Ullapool, llth January 1919. 



Loch Carron and Skye District. 



Although the quantity of fish landed shows a decrease of 25,192 cwts. 

 as compared with last year, the fisheries of the district continue to be 



