of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



55 



declined, and on the 24th the trammels were clean and the fishing 

 stopped. The quantities in the various weeks, the total amounting to 

 21,009 crans, were these: — 



December. 



January, 



February. 





irch . 







Boats. 



Crans. 



Boats. 



Crans. 



Boats. 



Crans. 







Boats. 



Crans. 



I 





6 



99 



189 



382 



271 



1,666 



16 



87 







395 



712 



289 



12,033 







94 



34 



325 



4,102 



160 



360 



66 



128 



128 



530 



120 



559 



35 



35 







84 



81 













416 





744 





5,755 





14,094 



The fishing in summer on the Ayrshire coast lasted only till early 

 in July, most of the boats going to Kilbrennan Sound. No herrings 

 were landed between 12th September and the week ending 26th 

 December, when 227 crans were taken by 38 boats at Girvan and 

 Maidens. In January, 1886, the weather was very stormy, and the 

 first herrings were landed on the 9th, but only a few crans ; the next 

 were taken in the week ended 23rd by drift-nets on Ballantrae Bank, 

 and more were taken there in the following week. In February the 

 fishing was slack, owing partly, it is said, to the low prices current ; but 

 that the herrings were scarce this season was shown in the week ended 

 27th February, when the weather was fine, and 285 boats were nightly 

 at sea, while the catch totalled only 1121 crans. The fishing closed on 

 24th March, and was the poorest, it is remarked, since it commenced 

 " about twelve years ago." The aggregate amounted to 4987 crans, 

 apportioned as follows : — 



December. January. February. March. 



227 184 2,224 2,352 



The summer fishing on the coast was unimportant. In December 

 some herrings were taken at Loch Ryan, but the fishing fell off, and trials 

 on the Ayrshire coast towards the end of the month were without 

 result. In January, 1887, small takes were got off Girvan and in 

 the neighbourhood, but there was no " appearance " of herrings on the 

 coast. About the middle of February the herrings were caught between 

 Bennan Head and Ballantrae Bank, and in the week ended 26th on the 

 bank itself. Little was caught until the week ended 5th March, during 

 which the weather was calm and summer-like, when 5084 crans were 

 landed, and in the next week 3707 crans. The officer notes that there 

 was a great admixture of small and unmarketable herrings amongst 

 those taken, especially by the seine-net, and quantities were used as 

 manure. The season closed on 15th March, the aggregate being 9913 

 crans, apportioned as follows : — 



December. January. February. March. 



37 48 754 9,074 



