46 Part III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



Sannox, though there was again a slight fishing in Gareloch about the 

 middle of September. 



In 1905, when the aggregate was 4455 crans, the bulk was obtained in 

 September and October, and the chief fishing places were in those months 

 the waters between the Ayrshire coast and Arran. 



In 1906 the total amounted to 7865 crans ; there is 

 an entry of 687 crans for winter fishing without specification 

 of grounds. The herrings in August and September were chiefly 

 caught on the east coast of Arran, in the channel between 

 Ardrossan and Arran, and in Brodick Bay. In November there 

 was a fishing on the coast of Ayrshire, but the quantity taken was small ; 

 later in the month it was farther up the coast, off Largs, and in the 

 end of the month in Gareloch, where a considerable shoal of herrings 

 appeared. In December the fishing continued with success in Gareloch, 

 and apparently also in January, 1907, for the first entry for that year, 

 on February 9th, represents 4844 crans as having been taken in the 

 winter fishing to date. In February, 1907, the fishing took place off 

 Greenock and in Largs Bay, and large quantities of herrings were taken. 

 In March this fishing fell off, the last, 25 crans, being taken in 

 the week ending March 9th. This then represents another incursion of 

 shoals to the upper reaches of the Clyde. The quantities (crans) landed 

 in each of the months are as follows : — 



1906. 



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

 687 141 1,304 1,630 451 2,014 1,638 



1907. 



January. February. March. 



4,844 2,709 • 25 



The catches by the week during the winter fishing in the upper waters 

 are as follows, the first few entries representing the fishing on the 

 northern part of the Ayrshire coast : — 



Nov. 3, 



38 



Dec. 8, 



377 



Jan. 



Feb. 



9, 



642 



Mar. 9, 



25 



„ io, 



65 



„ 15, 



575 



? 





16, 



624 







„ 17, 



417 



„ 22, 



168 







23, 



1,276 







„ 24, 



641 



„ 29, 



518 





Mar. 



2, 



167 







Dec. 1, 



853 





















2,014 





1,638 



4,844 







2,709 





25 



It may be noted that a period of about thirty-seven years has elapsed 

 since great shoals appeared in these waters. 



Ballantrae District. 



The limits of this district, as already stated, extend from and include 

 the town of Ayr on the Ayrshire coast, round to the Solway, embracing 

 the whole of the Scottish coast of the latter. In 1906 the number of 

 boats belonging to the district was 346, while there were 587 resident 

 fishermen and boys. As mentioned above, until 1863 this district was 

 included in the district of Greenock, so that the statistics available are 

 for the forty-four years 1863-1906. In this period the gross quantity 



