32 



Part III. — Twenty -fifth Annual Report 



When arranged in periods of five years, the annual averages for each 

 period are these : — 



Crans. Crans. 

 1854-56 2,552 1882-86 .. 4,653 



1857-61 

 1862-66 

 1867-71 

 1872-76 

 1877-81 



3,600 1887-91 11,881 



23,395 1892-96 2,658 



19,484 1897-1901 2,601 



4,529 1902-06 15,479 



4,158 



When the annual quantities are represented in the form of a graphic 

 diagram (Plate II.), the outstanding feature is the very high catches 

 from 1864 to 1871, and especially from 1864 to 1867. In the eight 

 years the total quantity landed was 207,470 crans, or almost half of the 

 gross quantity landed in the fifty-three years, and the annual average 

 was 25,934 crans. In the four years 1864-1867 the annual average was 

 34,721 crans. 



The information contained in the officers' books in regard to the place 

 of fishing in these years enables us to trace the movements of the shoals, 

 and it may be said that the success of the fishing in all the success- 

 ful years in this district depends on the shoals penetrating the Kyles of 

 Bute from the south and entering Loch Riddon, and also the other lochs 

 of the district, viz., Loch Striven, Loch Long, Loch Goil, and the Holy 

 Loch. 



The fishing in the district begins late, usually not till the end of June 

 or in July, and in some years not till August. In the early months 

 after it has begun, the herrings are chiefly taken on the coast of Arran, on 

 the west side of Bute, in Kilbrennan Sound, and at the mouth of Loch 

 Fyne, few or none being caught in the Kyles of Bute or the lochs of the 

 district. In many years this is the state of affairs throughout the whole 

 season. Thus, if we summarise the information for the successful years 

 above mentioned, and for a year or two before, we have the following : — 

 In 1862 the fishing began in the week ending 5th July, on the 

 coast of Arran and the west side of Bute, trials in the Kyles and in 

 Loch Long being rewarded with only a few dozen herrings. During the 

 whole season the fishing was in these waters, in Kilbrennan Sound, and 

 in Loch Fyne, only a few herrings being taken in the Kyles, the largest 

 quantity being got in November and December, and the total for the 

 two months was only 109 crans, a few of which were obtained in Loch 

 Riddon. 



In 1863 the fishing began on the week ended 27th June, on the 

 Arran coast, Kilbrennan Sound, and the west side of Bute ; there was 

 no fishing in the Kyles, but the fishermen reported that a considerable 

 quantity of small herrings were to be seen about the Kyles. In July 

 the grounds were the same, but they now included the area about 

 Ardlamont Point and also Loch Fyne. There is no record of the place of 

 fishing in August ; in September 'it was mostly about Ardlamont ; in 

 October it extended up the Kyles to Tighnabruaich ; in November it was 

 the same ; in the early part of December the fishing was between 

 Tighnabruaich and Loch Riddon, and as the month advanced it was 

 concentrated in Loch Riddon and the adjacent part of the Kyles, and the 

 catches were good. The particulars as to the weekly catches and the 

 number of boats fishing will be found in the table (p. 127). The totals for 

 the last four months, in crans, were — September, 107 ; October, 231 ; 

 November, 592 ■ December, 2832, the total for the year being 4642 

 crans. At the end of December the herrings became scarce and the 

 fishing ceased. 



