266 Appendices to Twenty -fifth Annual Report 



Stornoway, to which place the fish had to be carted from the different 

 townships. The price per cwt. was 8s. for curing smoked for the southern 

 markets. There were also fair takes obtained in East Locbroag. 

 Lobster There was a slight fallingoff in the number of lobsters landed as com- 



is mg. pared with the figures for 1905. This is accounted for by the fact that 

 fewer boats were employed during the winter and spring months, weather 

 conditions having been very unfavourable for fishing. At South Harris 

 a number of small craft follow the lobster fishing almost continuously 

 during the year. 



Alex. Sutherland, 



Fishery Officer. 



Stornoway, 10th January 1907. 



Bart a District. 



General The most noteworthy feature in connection with the district fisheries 



Remarks. f or the year under review was the remarkable success which attended the 

 prosecution of herring fishing, a circumstance which accounted for the 

 gratifying increase in the aggregate returns of fish landed, which are the 

 highest recorded for the district since 1870. Compared with the figures 

 for 1905, which was considered a fairly successful year, the returns of 

 white fish reveal the substantial increase in quantity and value of 72,604 

 cwts. and £22,095 respectively. Of the total quantity landed herrings 

 contributed fully 93 per cent., the quantity landed by lines being com- 

 paratively insignificant. The produce of the shell fisheries was considerably 

 under that of the previous year, and the value shows a decrease of £993. 

 Means of As a result of the success of the local crews at herring fishing, a con- 



Capture, siderable additiou was made to the class of boats ranging from 35 to 40 

 feet keel. Twelve second-hand boats purchased from east coast residenters 

 at prices ranging from £50 to £120 were added to the registry, while 

 negotiations are proceeding for the acquirement of a few others, including 

 two new boats of a similar size for Eriskay crews. 

 Early Summer The early summer herring fishing commenced at Castlebay in the 

 Herring beginning of May. and as the season advanced the fleet rapidly increased 

 until in the heginning of June it numbered 140 steam drifters and 300 

 sailing boats. Herrings appeared to be abundant in the Minch waters 

 during May, particularly on the Coll, Canna, and Tiree grounds, with the 

 result that the landings for May form a record for the port. Although 

 operations were vigorously prosecuted on the Atlantic grounds during the 

 latter part of the season, the results were not encouraging, and early in 

 June the fleet dispersed for the Shetland and East Coast fishings. 



The quality of the Minch herrings was exceptionally good, but as 

 cttrers were unprepared for such a heavy landing in May, prices were 

 considerably lower than in previous years, the average price per cran for 

 the season being £1 13s. 5d., against £2 lis. 6d. for the previous season, 

 so that, although the catch was 15,395 crans above that of 1905, the gross 

 value only showed an increase of £11,737. The most successful steam 

 drifter and sailing boat had earnings of £480 and £360 respectively ; 

 but generally the aggregate value was fairly well distributed among both 

 classes of vessels. Sixty boats prosecuted operations from Loch Boisdale 

 during May and June with exceptionally good results, the season's catch 

 amounting to 4838 cram?, against 895 for the previous year. The average 

 price per cran realised was 33s. 4d., against 36s. 2d. 



