120 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



As matters stand at present the fishing industry is faced with any- 

 thing but a hopeful outlook. The situation has been slightly relieved 

 since the monopoly of importing herrings into Germany was abolished, 

 and curers have already been sending consignments of their winter 

 cure to that country from this district. Unless there is a rapid 

 improvement in the rate of exchange with Continental countries it may 

 be assumed that curers will only conduct operations on a very modified 

 scale during the coming year. Since large numbers of fishermen and 

 fish-workers from the district find seasonable employment every year at 

 other centres, it can easily be understood to what extent hardship will 

 prevail here should a curtailment of the herring fishing be necessary. 



James Wood, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Storxoway, \2th January 1921. 



Barra District. 



The returns of the fisheries of this district show a large increase over 

 last year's. The increase is chiefly in herrings, being 61 per cent, in 

 quantity and 120 per cent, in value. There is an increase of 30 per cent, 

 in the number of lobsters landed, but the value is almost similar to last 

 year's. Compared with 1914 the landings of white fish show a decrease 

 of 7089 cwts., but an increase in value of £10,047; the comparative 

 differences are chiefly in herrings, which are 6411 cwts. less, but £8284 

 more. 



The only variations in the means of capture as compared with the 

 preceding year were decreases of 3 boats and 50 tons. Two first class 

 motor boats were driven from their anchors and totally wrecked by a gale 

 on November 10th, and 2 second class motor boats were sold out of the 

 district. One first class boat was purchased in place of one of the second 

 class boats sold. On the register there is a decrease of 1 first class boat 

 and 6 second class boats, but an increase of 3 third class boats. There 

 were no installations of motor engines during the year. 



During the winter months, owing to the exceptionally bad weather, 

 the herring boats were only a few times at sea. The landings for this 

 period totalled 419 crans, value £528. against 2046 crans, value £3555, 

 in the corresponding season last year. 



The spring herring fishing commenced on the 11th May with 25 

 steam drifters, and the local motor and sail boats. There were 12 curing 

 stations open, against 9 last year. From the commencement till the end 

 of June herrings were scarce and of poor quality. Mackerel and basking 

 sharks caused considerable damage to nets, and as the drifters were 

 scarcely earning sufficient to pay their running expenses, they left for 

 the East Coast. The landings for this period totalled 3390 crans at an 

 average price of 45s. per cran. With the continuous light fishing on the 

 East Coast the same steam drifters returned to Castlebay and were well 

 repaid. For the summer they all grossed over £1000, and the most 

 successful £2300. For the earjv and late seasons the landings totalled 

 11,183 crans, value £28,633, against 4991 crans, value £9579, in the 

 corresponding period last year. 



In the midst of all this fishing the local boats barely earned sufficient 

 to pay their expenses. Thev persisted in fishing close inshore where the 

 sea was u dirty," and to the Xorth — off Locheynort — where the heirings 

 were of poor quality. Their gross earnings ranged from £133 to £300, 



