48 Part 111. — Twenty -fifth Annual Report 



Loch Ryan, and herrings appear to spawn in the neighbourhood of the 

 banks, although the Ballantrae Bank is by far the most important 

 locality, and it is here that the herrings are chiefly obtained from the 

 middle of February to the end of March. 



As this fishing is an important one, I have prepared a table, so far as 

 the information is available, showing the quantities taken in the 

 different months in the various years. The statistics for the " winter " 

 fishing in the Greenock district from 1855 to 1862 (after which Ballan- 

 trae was separated) show the following, but it is unknown where the 

 herrings were taken: — 



1855 1,391 Crans (to 23rd June). 



1856 70 „ „ 14th „ 



1857 15 „ „ 13th „ 



1858 7 „ „ 5th „ 



1859 52 Crans (to 18th June). 



1860 17 „ „ 9th „ 



1861 50 „ „ 22nd „ 



1862 4 „ „ 7th „ 



These figures show, at all events, that the winter fishing in these years 

 at Ballantrae Banks or neighbourhood was small, and it is to be noted 

 that a close time which was established in I860,* from 1st January to 

 31st May, for the stretch from Ardnamurchan to the Mull of Galloway, 

 put a stop to the spring fishing on this coast. By another Act of 1865,t 

 the close-time was altered to the period from 1st February to 31st May, 

 and it was made subject to the Sea Fisheries Act of 1868, and has never 

 been enforced. It is stated in the report of the Commissioners of 1877 

 that seining for herrings commenced on the Ballantrae Banks in 1878 ; 

 but seines are mentioned in the records as having been employed in the 

 winter fishing in January, 1871, though not apparently on the Banks, 

 where, indeed, the abundance of set-nets or so-called trammels prevented 

 their use for several years. It is to be noted further that by a byelaw 

 (No. 18) that came into force in 1902, seine-trawling for herrings was 

 prohibited from the 15th January to 31st March in each year within an 

 area embracing Ballantrae Banks and the waters south to Corsewall 

 Point. J 



The table showing the takes of herrings landed in the four months 

 of each season, December-March, is appended. 



* By the Act 23 and 24 Vict., c. 92. 

 f28 and 29 Vict., c. 22. 



X The area is thus defined : — " A straight line drawn from Bennan Head, Ayr- 

 shire, to a point three miles north-west (magnetic) ; a straight line drawn from 

 Corsewall Point Lighthouse to a point three miles north-north-west (magnetic) ; 

 and a straight line joining the above-mentioned points." — Twentieth Animal 

 Revort, Part L, p. 258. 



[Table. 



