272 



Appendices to Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



Barometer. 



of whose work is done at night. When the fishing is in progress the 

 lights are kept burning all night, so that work can be carried on at all 

 times. 



The barometer is in good order, and it is expected that daily records 

 of the readings will be made during the coming year. 



Oban, 8th January 1907. 



John Glen, 



Fishery Officer. 



General 

 Remarks, 



Means of 

 Capture. 



Herring 

 Fishing. 



Campbeltown District. 



The results of the fisheries of the district, taken as a whole, compare 

 unfavourably with those of the preceding year and of a considerable 

 number of years past. The collapse of the herring fishing in Kilbrennan 

 Sound towards the end of July, and its continued non-success right on to 

 the close of the year, accounts largely for the decrease. Great-line fishing 

 was more than usually successful at Campbeltown, and at other creeks 

 fair results were obtained, while the returns of other varieties of fish 

 landed were equal to the previous year's, and. in some instances, showed 

 slight increases. 



The returns for the year show a decrease of seven in the number of 

 boats belonging to the district, but a slight increase in value, the result of 

 the boats cancelled being of little value compared with those added to 

 the fleet. With the exception of a tendency to increase the area of drift- 

 netting at Campbeltown, the gear used in the capture of fish shows little 

 change. 



The herring fishing throughout the year was disappointing, and, although 

 for some years past it has been prosecuted almost without an interval, it 

 may be said to have terminated during 1906 about the latter end of July. 

 During the months of August, September, November, and December 

 practically the whole fleet conducted operations on the Ayrshire coast. 

 Fortunately, the majority of the crews were fairly successful, and during 

 December several crews earned large sums at Ayr and Stranraer. From 

 January to March a fleet of from 60 to 80 vessels were employed in 

 Kilbrennan Sound, but during that period the catch shows a falling-off 

 to the extent of 1997 crans in quantity and £1883 in value as compared 

 with the returns of the corresponding months in 1905. July and August 

 also show large decreases, although the discrepancy in value is not so 

 apparent as in the quantity landed. Prices were considerably higher 

 throughout the year, the average for the first three months being 28s, 9d. 

 per cran, as compared with 24s. 4d. per cran in the previous year, and 

 the average price from January to December was almost 50 per cent, 

 higher than in 1905. The total deficiency in the catch amounts to 9090 

 crans and £5111 in quantity and value respectively. The quality of the 

 winter herrings was excellent up to the middle of February, after which 

 month they became spent, but during May and June good medium-sized 

 fish were obtained, while in July they were again in excellent condition. 

 The usual fishing grounds, which extend from Skipness to Kildalloig Bay 

 and on the west and south-west of Arran, were fished at intervals, but 

 the shoals which in former years were so prolific were not to be found on 

 either side of Kilbrennan Sound. As many as fifty crews, a much larger 

 number than usual, engaged in drift-net fishing during June and July, 

 and the high prices obtaining, along with the regularity of the fishing, 

 made it fairly remunerative, although the catches rarely exceeded a daily 

 average of from 3 crans to 4 crans per crew. 



