40 



Part III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



to be abundant, not rising to the surface, which was ascribed to the 

 prevalent wet weather. Ground-nets, or so-called "trammels," were 

 largely used, with success, as well as drift-nets. In the week ended 12th 

 December a good fishing was got (2607 crans) by the three modes in the 

 Kyles and Loch Riddon. In the succeeding weeks seines were most 

 successful, but as the market was glutted and prices fell the fishing 

 became slack, and the last herrings were taken on 26th December. It 

 appears, however, that the fishing was resumed in January, because the 

 first entry in the records for the next year is 2843 crans for the winter 

 fishing, and though no details are given as to the weekly catches or the 

 place of fishing, it may be surmised to represent the fishing in January in 

 the Kyles and probably Loch Riddon. The quantities for the various 

 months were as follows: — 



July. August. September. October. November. December. January (?) 

 413 351 3,327 2,944 2,717 10,897 2,843 



In 1902-1903 there was thus a repetition of what took place 36 years 

 before, but in the later case the shoals of herrings did not apparently 

 penetrate to Loch Striven and the northern lochs, as mention is not made 

 of any fishing north of Loch Riddon. The fishing, moreover, in 1904 fell 

 to 7540 crans, and to 1738 crans in 1905. In 1904, herrings entered the 

 Kyles at the end of September, and a fair fishing was got between 

 Ardlamont Point and Tighnabruaicb, and in the first fortnight of October 

 in Loch Riddon also. The herrings disappeared after this in the Kyles 

 until December, when a few hundred crans were caught. In 1905 the 

 Officer reported unusual quantities of mackerel as being caught in July 

 and August especially, and practically no fishing took place in the 

 Kyles. 



In 1906 the aggregate catch was again above the average, amounting 

 to 13,709 crans ; but in this year the successful fishing was due, not to the 

 herrings having come into the Kyles or the northern lochs, but to their 

 congregation on the east side of Arran, and especially in Brodick Bay and 

 neighbourhood, a position not recorded in any previous year. In August, 

 and still more in September, preat catches were made in that locality. 

 In the early part of October the shoal shifted northwards, and in the 

 week ended 13th, 3218 crans were taken in the vicinity of Inchmarnock, 

 at the mouth of the Kyles, to which it was supposed the herrings were 

 moving. Stormy weather followed, and the herrings disappeared, and the 

 quantity taken in the remaining months was very small, and mostly in 

 Loch Striven, but also in Loch Riddon and on the Ayrshire coast. The 

 catches in the various months were as follows: — 



June. July. August. September. October. November. December. 

 133 416 2,754 6,070 3,904 72 197 



Greenock District. 



This district comprises the upper part of the Clyde, including the coast 

 of Dumbartonshire on the north, the coast of Renfrewshire, and the 

 northern part of the coast of Ayrshire as far as, but not including, the 

 port of Ayr. It thus includes the estuary of the Clyde and the Gareloch, 

 and on the Ayrshire coast the ports of Troon, Irvine, Saltcoats, 

 Ardrossan and Largs. In 1906 there were 195 boats and 256 fishermen 

 and boys belonging to the district. The statistical records in the Officer's 

 books go back to the year 1855, but it is to be noted that at that time, 



