132 



Appendices to Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



unclassified kinds. The total value of all kinds of shell-fish taken was 

 £765, or £84 more than in the previous" year. 



No lives were lost in connection with the district fisheries, and the 

 loss of and damage to fishing gear was very slight. 



Two fishing boats were built within the limits of the district, against 

 4 in 1919. 



John Lawson, 



Fishery Officer. 



Fishery Office, 

 Glasgow, 7th February 1921. 



Greenock District. 



Both as regards quantity and value, the returns of fish, excluding 

 shell-fish, landed in this district during 1920 show a marked decrease 

 from the figures for the preceding year. With the exception of the 

 herring fishing very little was done, and it is evident that the majority 

 of the local fishermen concentrate their whole time and attention on the 

 herring fishing, leaving the line, cod-net and flounder net fishings to the 

 smaller and less efficient sailing craft. It is not then surprising that 

 each succeeding year records a substantial decrease on the landings of 

 white fish. If this downward tendency continues, the fishing ports in 

 this district will soon be non-existent. 



A feature which largely explains the decrease of white fish in 1920 

 is that, whereas considerable quantities of fish were landed at Glasgow 

 direct from steam trawlers and steam liners in 1919, only one steam 

 trawler discharged a very small shot of fish at the port during 1920. 



The means of capture returns also show a downward tendency. 

 Four motor boats and 1 sailing boat were added to the fleet, but on the 

 other hand 4 motor and 6 sailing vessels were struck off the register. 

 The district is now credited with 109 fishing vessels. 



The herring fishing returns show decreases of 3785 cwts. in quantity 

 and .£560 in value from the figures for 1919. The decreases are largely 

 attributable to the comparative failure of the fishing on the grounds 

 within easy reach of the district ports. The herring fleet was, practi- 

 cally throughout the year, engaged in prosecuting the fishing in Loch 

 Fyne and the Kilbrennan Sound. For the most part the catch was sent 

 from the ports of landing to Glasgow and the Midland markets. The 

 average price to the fishermen worked out at 45s. 5d. per cran, as com- 

 pared with 35s. 4d. in the preceding year and 58s. in 1918. 



With regard to the landings of mackerel, increases of 228 cwts. in 

 quantity and .£50 in value are recorded. As in the case of herrings, the 

 mackerel were all railed in a fresh state to Glasgow and the southern 

 markets. The average price for the year was 10s. 6d. per cwt., as 

 against 12s. 4d. in 1919. 



The net and line fishing for white fish was of very little importance. 

 A good proportion of the landings was retailed in the localties where 

 the fish were landed. The total landings for the year amounted to 1051 

 cwts. of the value of £2074, being 1955 cwts. and £7994 less than 

 in 1919. Cod and codling averaged 45s. 3d. per cwt., saith 21s. lid., 

 eels 27s. Id., and flounders and plaice 54s. 9d. ; as against 61s. 8d., 

 lis. 6d., 40s. and 57s. 6d. respectively in 1919. 



The returns of shell-fish show very little change from those of the 

 preceding year; a slight decrease of £15 in value has however to be 

 recorded. Mussels accounted for 64 per cent, of the total value. The 



