of the Fishery Board, for Scotland, 



275 



Although lobster fishing was considerably interrupted in the early part Shell-fish 

 of the season by stormy weather, the number of fish landed was practically Fisheries, 

 the same as in the preceding year. At Luing, the principal creek, there 

 was a slight decrease, but this was fully made up by increases at Oinan 

 and Loch Kylesport, where the catching power was greater than in 1905. 



There was no material difference in the output of oysters, a decrease in 

 the number taken from West Loch Tarbert beds being made up by an 

 increase from Loch Sween. 



The construction of four boats at Ardrishaig kept the builders well Boatbuilding, 

 employed there ; but, unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Tarbert, 

 where the trade is at present in a very depressed state. Two of the boats 

 launched were the largest ever built in the district, both being for Campbel- 

 town owners. The outlook for 1907 is not encouraging. 



Fortunately, no lives were lost in connection with the district fisheries, Casualties, 

 and the damage to boats and gear, although greater than in the preceding 

 year, was, considering the capital involved, insignificant. 



Robert Spink, 



Tarbert, 5th January 1907. Fishery Officer. 



Rothesay District. 



The principal feature of the fisheries of this district during the year General 

 1906 was the fair measure of success which attended the prosecution of Remarks, 

 the herring fishing. The season's catch amounted to 13,709 crans, valued 

 at ,£14,216, as against 1738 crans and £1615 in the previous year. 



Decreases in the number of fishermen, boats, and tonnage, as well as in Means of 

 the area of netting, are the principal feature of the means of capture Ca P ture - 

 returns. During the past six years there has been an average decrease of 

 about eight boats annually, and, judging from present indications, there is 

 every probability that this falling-off will be equally as much in evidence 

 in the near future. The main cause of this unfortunate state of matters 

 is the gradual decrease of the older fishermen, and the fact that only a few 

 of the younger men bestow any interest on the fisheries. The majority 

 of the latter class now join the mercantile marine, while a number of 

 them also get employment on board of yachts. 



A start was made at herring fishing early in June, but the results Herring 

 obtained up to the end of August were of a meagre nature. Early in the Fisnin £- 

 autumn, however, a large shoal of herrings appeared between Ailsa Craig 

 and Pladda Island, and as the season advanced these fish were caught in 

 large quantities in Brodick Bay, while towards the end of October they 

 were met with off Inchmarnoch Island. It is somewhat strange, and 

 worthy of notice, that while herrings were unusually abundant in most 

 of the Clyde areas last year, there was a complete dearth of these fish in 

 the once prolific waters of Loch Fyne and Kilbrannan Sound. A fleet of 

 about 400 boats, all of which belonged to creeks in the Clyde districts, 

 were engaged fishing in the district waters. 



Drift-net crews were more successful for a time than seine-net crews, 

 so much so that the latter put ashore their trawling gear and fitted out 

 with drift nets. 



About three-fourths of the season's catch was purchased at sea by 

 buying steamers and conveyed to market by them in a fresh state. 



The herrings, although by no means large, were generally of fair quality, 

 and realised good prices. The season's average price per cran was 20s. 

 9d., as compared with 18s. 7d. in the preceding year. The average 

 earnings of the drift-net crews for the year were £110, and those cf the 

 seine-crews (two skiffs) £600, 

 T 



