of the Fishery Board for Scotland* 



273 



Groat-line fishing was prosecuted with satisfactory results at Gigha and Cod and 



Saithe 

 Fishiner. 



Portnahaven, both these stations showing slight increases over the pre- Si 



vious year's catch. The cod fishing at Campbeltown was the most suc- 

 cessful experienced for many years, a fact which is attributed largely to 

 the absence of steam trawlers, which were much less in evidence than 

 usual on the fishing grounds where operations are carried on. The 

 increase at Campbeltown over the figures for 1905 amounts to 1414 

 cwts. in quantity and £848 in value, and the total increase for the district 

 is 1984 cwts. and .£997 in quantity and value respectively. Cod nets 

 were used at Campbeltown for the first time with so much success that 

 this mode of capture is likely to become more popular. The want of bait 

 for great-lines sometimes means considerable loss of time, while the nets 

 can be worked independently of bait, and there is obviously much less 

 labour involved. 



About the usual number of crews were engaged at small-line fishing, Haddocks and 

 and the returns for the year show better results than was the case in Whitings. 

 1905. With the exception of small consignments which were sent to 

 Glasgow in the spring, the fish were all sold locally. The average price 

 of haddocks for the year was 17s. 6d. per cwt., and of whitings 20s. 3d. 

 per cwt. 



The absence of the herring fleet materially affected the catch of flat Flounder 

 fish, which shows a decrease of 294 cwts. and £317 in quantity and value Fishin? " 

 respectively as compared with that of the previous year. Flounder fish- 

 ing was almost entirely neglected during the last two months of the year. 



The catch of lobsters shows no appreciable change from that of the Shell-fish, 

 previous year, and the total value of shell-fish is similar to that of 1905. 



The greater part of the herrings were, as usual, bought at sea and con- Fresh Fish, 

 veyed direct to market. 



Although the district returns show a decrease, financially the fishermen Earnings of 

 were in a much better position than in 1905. The successful fishings on Fishermen, 

 the Ayrshire coast contributed largely to this satisfactory result. 



Stormy weather seriously handicapped the crews engaged at the Irish Irish 

 herring fishing. Herrings were plentiful on the coast, but for weeks in Herring 

 succession operations were suspended. All the crews from the district, 18 mg ' 

 however, cleared expenses, and several made good earnings. 



Very few herrings were cured during the year, and the only exporta- Curing and 

 tions consisted of saithe sent from Portnahaven to Ireland. Cod, ling, and Ex P ortatlon - 

 saith, were cured at Gigha and Portnahaven. 



The local boatbuilders were fairly well employed, and prospects are Boatbuilding, 

 brighter than they were at the close of 1905. 



The loss of fishing material was of very little account, and, fortunately, Casualties, 

 no casualty falls to be recorded. 



Munro Johnston, 



Fishery Officer. 



Campbeltown, 7th January 1907. 



Inveraray District. 



For the third year in succession the results of the district fisheries have General 

 proved very disappointing to all concerned. When compared with the Remark 

 figures for 1905, the aggregate catch shows an increase of 2928 cwts., but, 

 chiefly owing to the low prices paid for herrings, the monetary returns 

 reveal a decrease of £1382. The total value, if not the lowest on record, 

 is certainly the lowest for many years, 



