of the fiishery Board for Scotland. 



267 



The Minch grounds continued productive from July to September, and Summer 

 as a good demand prevailed for herrings the local crews and a few crews p^y inff 

 from neighbouring districts who prosecuted operations had substantial " 

 earnings, lauding for the season at Castlebay and Loch Boisdale 5169 

 crans, valued at £0133, against 3600 crans, valued at £3180, for the cor- 

 responding period of the previous year. 



During the latter part of the year good takes of herring, which were Autumn 

 disposed of principally at Loch Boisdale and Loch Skipport, were got in p^ 1 ^ 

 the South Uist lochs. The total landing amounted to 3948 crans, valued 18 

 at .£4894, against 4090 crans, valued at £3668, for the corresponding 

 season of 1905. 



Although mackerel appeared to be abundant during July and August, Mackerel 

 this branch of the fishing was not prosecuted with any vigour, owing to Fishing, 

 the lack of buyers and the low prices prevailing. Compared with the 

 results of the previous season, the catch showed an increase of 419 cwts., 

 but a decrease in value of £283. 650 barrels were cured for export to 

 the United States, where they realised on an average ten dollars per 

 barrel, while a similar quantity was cured by the lishermen for local 

 consumption. 



Owing to the success of theherring fishing, line fishing received less atten- Line Fishing . 

 tion and the quantity landed shows a decrease of 2019 cwts. compared 

 with the return fur 1905. The few crews who prosecuted great-line 

 fishing during the spring months met with poor success, and operations 

 were discontinued early in April. 



Lobster fishing was not so actively prosecuted as during the previous p^*"^ 

 year, particularly at Barra and Loch Boisdale, and the value shows a 16 erw *" 

 decrease of £517. A slight increase is shown in the quantity of whelks 

 dispatched from the northern islands ; but the output from the Barra 

 cockle beds was little more than a third of the quantity dispatched during 

 the previous year. Although considerably fewer persons were at work 

 during 1906, results points to the conclusion of over-fishing during the 

 previour year. 



With the exception of a small portion of the winter and autumn Curing and 

 catch, all the herrings landed were, as usual, cured gutted. The Ex P ort * tlon - 

 early summer cure was sent to Russia and Germany in about equal pro- 

 portions, the latter country receiving practically all the summer cure, 

 while the autumn cure was largely disposed of in the home markets. 

 Generally, prices for cured herrings were fairly satisfactory, and curers 

 fared better than for several years past. 



In October a Berneray fishing boat on passage from Lochmaddy was Casualties, 

 swamped and the four occupants — three fishermen and a crofter — were, 

 unfortunately, drowned. 



Early in May an increased water supply, costing over £1000, was intro- improvements 

 duced into Castlebay, whereby all the curing stations around the loch atC»itl«b*y. 

 were provided with a plentiful supply. Another improvement which was 

 also greatly appreciated by the trade was the erection of a new fish 

 mart, which was opened about the same time. 



