of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



127 



Campbeltoivn District. 



The total quantity and value of net and line fish landed in this 

 district during the year 1920 was 81,469 cwts. and £53,331, as compared 

 with 70,643 cwts. and £53,225 for the previous year, showing a marked 

 increase in the catch, but only a slight increase in the total value. The 

 value of shell fish landed for the year shows a decrease of £91, so that 

 the total value of all fish landed shows an increase of only £15, despite 

 the marked increase in the quantities landed. This decrease in average 

 values is largely accounted for by the difference in the prices paid for 

 herrings during the spring months of 1920 and in the corresponding 

 period of the previous year, when the demand for herrings was keen and 

 war prices still prevailed. 



The means of capture returns show a decrease of 13 boats, but an 

 increase of 5 tons when compared with last year's figures. The additions 

 to the register during the year were 6 second class motor boats (1 a 

 new boat, 1 from Tarbert district, 1 from Ireland, and the others 

 boats of a smaller type bought from other districts and fitted out for 

 fishing), and 2 sail boats, 1 second class and 1 third class. A motor 

 boat belonging to Campbeltown was wrecked, another sold out of the 

 district, and a number of second and third class sailers struck off the 

 register as being unseaworthy. 



Owing to the high prices prevailing, very little new gear was acquired 

 by the fishermen during the year. The majority of the crews were 

 inclined to wait for a season in the hope of a decrease in prices. 



During the month of January the herring fleet was successful in 

 locating shoals of fine herrings in Machrie Bay, but bad weather seriously 

 interrupted operations. This was all the more regrettable, because at that 

 period the demand for supplies for the fresh market was keen and good 

 prices were realised. In February, Kildalloig Bay was teeming with 

 herrings, but as the fish were of poor spawny quality there was no 

 demand after the first week's fishing, and prices quickly fell to as low 

 as 2s. per basket. 



Towards the end of the month the majority of the crews went to the 

 Ayrshire coast, but as the herrings were of a similar quality and the 

 landings heavy, poor prices were the rule, and the bulk of the fleet 

 returned home. 



Herring fishing was engaged in occasionally by a number of crews 

 from February to the middle of June, but during this period the demand 

 was poor, and the quality of the herrings landed not very satisfactory. 



A number of the local crews proceeded to Canna at this time and 

 had a very successful season at the herring fishing there, landing their 

 catches at Mallaig. From July to the beginning of October the herring 

 fishing was prosecuted steadily in Kilbrannan Sound with fair results. 

 The quality of the fish landed at this period was as a rule poor, but the 

 low supplies from the East Coast ports kept the demand from the fresh 

 market good, and the local fishermen were able to earn a fair wage. 



From October to the end of the year the majority of the local fisher- 

 men were at work in Loch Fyne participating in a successful fishing, 

 and nearly all the crews so engaged earned good wages. 



Herring curing was confined to Campbeltown, and here 780 barrels 

 were cured, most of which were sent to Leith for distribution. All the 

 herrings kippered were disposed of locally. 



As usual the bulk of the catch was sold to the steamers on the 

 grounds, and carried by them to the rail-heads for Glasgow market. 

 Nine steamers were engaged in this work during the year, carrying a 

 total of 28,008 boxes of herrings, value £24,003. 



From June to October catches of mackerel were secured in 



