74 



Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



There was no loss of life in connection with the fisheries, and the damage 

 to boats and gear was immaterial. 



J. Skinner, 

 Acting Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Campbeltown, \±th February 1919. 



Rothesay District. 



The results of the fisheries of Rothesay district for the year under 

 review show an increase of 25,978 cwts. in quantity and £25,339 in value 

 on the returns for 1917. Rather more than the total increase in quantity 

 was attributable to the* improvement in the herring fishing, while the 

 increase in value was also chiefly derived from the same, source. 



The number of sailing boats belonging to the district showed a decrease 

 of 3 second-class and an increase of 2 third-class on the figures for the 

 previous year. Six motor boats were added to the register during the 

 course of the year, and one was withdrawn from the fishing. Five of these 

 were second-class boats with 6-8 to 10-12 h.p. engines, and one third- 

 class with a 3-4 h.p. engine. Two of the boats were previously employed 

 in fishing — one at Tarbert and the other as a sailing boat — while the 

 remaining 4 were formerly used for pleasure. 



The herring fishing was light and disappointing up to the end of 

 October. In the beginning of November a large shoal of herrings was 

 located in the Kyles of Bute, and the fishing was successfully prosecuted 

 by a fleet of from 20 to 70 and 80 boats belonging to the Clyde districts, 

 to the end of the year. 



The total landings for these two months alone amounted to 7746 

 crans, valued at £20,450. Although of a small size, the herrings were 

 readily disposed of to carrying steamers on the fishing grounds and to 

 buyers on shore at Rothesay. For the year the average price worked out 

 at 56s. per cran as against 71s. 5d. in the previous year. 



A certain proportion of the catch was retailed in the district and in 

 Glasgow, but the bulk, especially in the latter part of the year, was sent 

 to England, where there appeared to be quite a good demand for that class 

 of herrings. 



The quantity of mackerel taken was 479 cwts. less than in 1917, while 

 the value was £774 more, the average price being 22s. 6d. per cwt. as 

 compared with 12s. lOd. in the preceding year. As in the case of herrings, 

 England and Glasgow were the chief markets to which mackerel were 

 sent. 



Apart from herrings and mackerel, cod, including codling, and saith 

 were the principal kinds of white fish taken. The total landings under the 

 various headings amounted to 5917 cwts. of a value of £14,475 — a decrease 

 of 790 cwts., but an increase of £3633 on the returns for the previous year. 



Each creek contributed its quota to the landings, but the chief places 

 were Rothesay, Dunoon, and Loch Long. Part of the catch was sold 

 locally and the remainder was sent to market — chiefly Glasgow. 



As supplies were generally rather limited, prices were high throughout 

 the year. Cod and codling averaged 67s. 9d. per cwt., saithe 34s., eel 

 59s., flounder and plaice 120s., as compared with 41s. 3d., 20s. 7d., 19s., 

 and 100s. 8d. per cwt. respectively in 1917. 



The total value of shell-fish was £72 greater than in the preceding year. 

 The number of lobsters captured (was nearly double, but there was a 

 shrinkage in the quantity of mussels and unclassified shell-fish landed. 



