of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



129 



Inveraray District. 



The results of the fishing operations carried on in this district last 

 year were exceptionally satisfactory, and show, when compared with 

 those of the previous year, a very marked increase in the quantity and 

 value of fish landed. The total landings in this district for the year 

 amounted to 96,826 cwts., valued at £37,979, while the totals for herrings 

 alone were 93,982 cwts. and £36,281 respectively. Compared with 1919 

 the figures for all fish landed show increases of 50,700 cwts. and £19,059, 

 which were therefore greater than the totals for the preceding year. 

 This remarkable improvement was due entirely to the very successful 

 herring fishing. The totals for the year have not been reached since 

 1899, when the landings of herrings for this district were 109,810 cwts. 

 valued at £40,876. 



The means of capture returns show a decrease of 13 boats since the 

 preceding year. Some of those were old boats which were useless for 

 the fishing, while others were only small pleasure boats that had been 

 registered during the war, so as to be at liberty to engage in fishing for 

 profit. Compared with 1914 the returns show decreases of 60 boats and 

 250 tons. 



In the month of January practically all the fleet belonging to this 

 district was operating in Rothesay district, where large shoals of herrings 

 were met with, and a good market was found for them at prices ranging 

 from 14s. to 60s. per cran. During February, however, the boats were 

 not so fortunate, as very severe weather was experienced, and although 

 there was a good appearance of herrings in the Kyles of Bute, the fleet 

 only ventured to sea on a few occasions. On the Ayrshire coast during 

 the month of March the Loch Fyne fleet was again very unsuccessful, for 

 although there were plenty of herrings on the grounds the quality was so 

 poor and the price so low that the boats from this district gave up 

 fishing and came home. Towards the middle of April the herring fishing 

 was resumed in Loch Fyne and fairly good catches were secured in the 

 waters between Tarbert and Skipness, but the herrings were of poor 

 quality, and the prices realised were only from 12s. to 40s. per cran. 

 From then onwards till the end of June the fishing was very dis- 

 appointing, but during July large shoals of herrings were again located 

 on the grounds between Tarbert and Skipness, and good catches were 

 landed, for which prices ranged from 25s. to 72s. per cran. The herrings 

 remained in the loch right on till the close of the year, and during the 

 last two months nearly all the Campbletown fleet and some boats from 

 Rothesay and Ballantrae districts operated in Loch Fyne. Very heavy 

 catches were netted, and in some cases so large were the quantities 

 " circled " that the herrings burst through the nets, while the catch for 

 the month of December reached the total of 13,042 crans valued at 

 £13,503. 



Only 806 barrels of herrings were cured during the year, three-fourths 

 at Ardrishaig and the remainder at Tarbert. There was a good demand 

 for them in the surrounding districts at 48s. to 50s. per barrel. 



Small shoals of mackerel found their way into the loch during the 

 summer months, and shots of 30 to 90 baskets were netted, nearly all of 

 which were sold to the buying steamers at 8s. to 14s. per basket. The 

 landings show decreases of 824 cwts. and £619 as compared with the 

 previous year. 



The line-fishing is of very little importance in this district, and the 

 total quantity landed amounted to 246 cwts. valued at £407, being 

 slightly greater than in 1919. 



The cod-net fishing also was prosecuted with very little success, and 



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