of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



crans had to be roused in barrels. The situation improved during the 

 following week, when seyeral stranger curers opened up their 

 stations, and as women workers were in due course prevailed upon 

 to come along from the country districts there was soon enough labour 

 to handle a fairly decent catch. Towards the latter end of the season 

 there were two occasions on which the curing strength of the port was 

 taxed to its utmost. However, the difficulties were eventually overcome 

 without imposing any restrictions on the movements of the fleet. 



The quality of the herrings landed throughout the whole season was 

 generally good. In fact about the middle of August some excep- 

 tionally fine herrings were obtained from the grounds situated off 

 Lochmaddy, where dense shoals were located by East Coast drifters, 

 attracted by reports of good prospects on this coast. 



All sections of the trade appreciated the timely aid granted by the 

 Government, and rendered every assistance towards the smooth working 

 of the Guarantee Scheme. 



During the period that the scheme was in operation 27,580 crans 

 valued at £69,638 were landed at Stornoway, while the total for the whole 

 district amounted to 30,208 crans valued at .£75,209. The number of 

 barrels of herrings cured in the district for the same period was 35,446, 

 of which 22,347^ barrels were taken over by the Government. The 

 balance consisted chiefly of matje cured herrings, which were disposed ot 

 by the curers atremunerative prices to American buyers. 



Local fishermen who fished in home waters had no reason to complain 

 of their earnings from the summer herring fishing. Steam drifters were 

 reported to have grossed from £1700 to £2800 ; motor boats from £700 

 to £1600; and sail boats from £400 to £1300. Hired fishermen who 

 were engaged at the East Coast experienced a bad season, and had 

 little or no earnings to bring home. 



Apart from occasional landings of great-line fish at Stornoway during 

 the spring months, lining is practically confined to the outlying creeks, 

 where in the absence of a regular market there is no inducement to 

 fishermen to engage in its prosecution so actively as they might do under 

 more favourable circumstances. 



At several creeks in Lewis and Harris lobster fishing is of no little 

 importance, and this was vigorously carried on for a considerable part of 

 the year. However the demand in southern markets seemed less keen 

 than in former years, and consequently prices at certain periods were 

 often not too remunerative. 



The partial stoppage of Lord Leverhulme's scheme of improvements 

 in the earlier half of the year was a source of keen disappointment to 

 the greater number of the inhabitants of Lewis, but now that efforts are 

 being made to settle the differences which occasioned such a drastic step 

 it is to be hoped that the near future will see the works restarted. 

 Perhaps from a fishery point of view the completion of the canning 

 factory is the most important, as once in working order it would deal 

 with large quantities of fish, and for a district remotely situated from 

 the fish consuming centres any additional outlet for the catch is of no 

 little advantage. It is expected that the factory will be ready in time 

 to commence canning operations next summer. An ice factory is also 

 in course of construction in conjunction with the canning factory, and 

 the machinery is now being installed. 



The more recent improvements undertaken at Obbe, Harris, were 

 proceeded with during the year without any interruption. In addition 

 to the building of a pier quite a number of neat detached houses are. in 

 course of erection, presumably with the idea of attracting crofter fisher- 

 men to settle at Obbe. 



