of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



77 



level to the catcher, and in some measure assured the wholesale buyer 

 a profitable return for his outlay and labour, thereby practically in- 

 demnifying the industry against loss. Unfortunately, from the consumers 

 point of view, the maximum retail price almost invariably became the 

 minimum, except in a few instances for very small herrings. 



The area of operations being practically confined to the Clyde area, 

 the fishermen of the district were more fortunate than those elsewhere 

 in that they were able to pursue their calling almost unhampered by 

 Admiralty restrictions. 



In spite of the rise in value of all material connected with the industry 

 and the heavy withdrawal of men for naval service, the Means of Capture 

 Returns were well maintained, boats and gear having been acquired by 

 a number of amateur and occasional fishermen. Further, the fleet of 

 motor boats at some of the creeks has been substantially improved by 

 the replacement of some of the older craft by new, larger, and more e'fficient 

 vessels in anticipation of the more strenuous times expected with the 

 return to more normal conditions. During the year Dunure, for example, 

 has acquired no less than six new motor boats, all larger and more powerful 

 than those displaced. 



The Ayrshire coast section of this district is supported chiefly by 

 herring fishing, this branch being prosecuted all the year round, except 

 for a varying short interval in the early summer as circumstances and 

 prospects dictate. When the year opened a fairly successful herring 

 fishing was in progress at Ayr, which lasted through January. In 

 February the venue of operations changed to Loch Ryan and vicinity, 

 and later the Ballantrae Bank, and for the next six weeks an irregular 

 but remunerative fishing was carried on. Exploitation of the latter 

 fishing ground was severely hindered by adverse weather, but success 

 was usually attained when the weather was propitious. In this fishing 

 about 100 motor boats, principally from Campbeltown and Loch Fyne 

 districts, participated, some of the Dunure and Maidens crews preferring 

 to continue operations on the upper section of the Ayrshire coast. The 

 season, perhaps from a monetary point of view the most successful on 

 record, closed in the middle of March. 



The quality at Stranrear was generally good, and prices ranged from 

 30s. to 53s. per basket, but the landings at Ayr consisted mostly of small 

 herrings, which realised proportionately lower prices. 



In the middle of April a fresh start was made at herring fishing by the 

 Dunure fleet in Culzean Bay, which did not prove very productive, but 

 continued for some time with varying success. From this time on to 

 the end of November the district boats from the Ayrshire creeks operated 

 with drift and seine nets in various parts of the Clyde area with moderate 

 results, when a successful fishing was reported in the Kyles of Bute which 

 drew all the motor crews thither. Most of them participated in this 

 fishing with considerable success until the end of the year, when opera- 

 tions were still prosperous. 



With the coming into force of the Fish Prices Order, 1918, prices took 

 a lower level, but where quality was anything like fair, maximum prices 

 generally ruled. 



As already indicated, line fishing is not prosecuted to any considerable 

 extent by district crews, this branch being largely left to a few odd small 

 boats scattered throughout the district. Some three to four crews from 

 the Maidens operate with small lines for some months, but during the 

 year under review this fishing was not so productive as in 1917, although 

 the value was higher. 



From Stranraer eastwards, along the coast of the Solway Firth, 

 including Luce and Wigtown Bays, various kinds of flounder nets are 



