of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



61 



the year, probably indicated that the shoals were returning again to their 

 old grounds, because the spring fishing in 1906 was better. In January 

 a total of 584 crans were landed, but nothing is said as to the quantities 

 each week, or as to the place of fishing. In the first part of February the 

 fishing was apparently mostly about Loch Ryan ; towards the end of the 

 month, and in March, about the Ballantrae Banks. The fishing closed 

 in the week ended 24th March, the total for the three months being as 

 follows : — 



January. February. March. 



584 183 389 



For the reason stated, the absence of information as to December, the 

 total for the season cannot be given. 



At the end of 1 906 a very good fishing was obtained. In the early 

 part of November good takes were secured near Ayr, and later in the 

 month between Girvan and Turnberry, off Girvan, and in Loch Ryan. 

 In December the fishing continued with extraordinary good results in 

 Loch Ryan, but also between Ayr and Dunnre, and at the middle of the 

 month a good "appearance" along the whole coast was reported. In 

 January the fishing fell off very much, and the herrings left Loch Ryan. 

 The first part of February was stormy and few herrings were caught, the 

 boats only fishing on two weeks in the month. March was also very 

 stormy, and comparatively small catches were got on the spawning banks, 

 the fishing closing in the last week of the month. The aggregate for the 

 four months, December-March, amounted to 11,629 crans, by far the greater 

 portion being got in December. If the catches in November are added 

 the total would be 14,193 crans ; but it is stated that most of the 69 crans 

 landed in the first week of November were caught in other districts. It 

 is to be noted in considering the monthly totals that seiners were excluded 

 from the banks and within the area specified in the bye-law (see p. 48) 

 from 1 5th January to the end of March ; and in former years seiners 

 lauded the bulk of the herrings. The weekly particulars are these : — 



November. 



December. 



January. 



February. 



March. 



Boats. 



Crans. 



Boats. 



Crans. 



Boats. 



Crans. 



Boats. 



Crans. 



Boats. 



Crans. 



21 



69 



68 



1,768 



30 



186 



9 



7 



15 



58 



29 



454 



125 



1,499 



61 



133 







24 



391 



42 



266 



124 



4,911 



38 



13 







2 





40 



612 



70 



2,017 



16 



5 



43 



535 



4 



106 



52 



1,163 



















2,564 





10,195 





337 





542 





555 



From the above account it is evident that the fluctuations in the winter 

 and spring fishing on the Ayrshire coast have been very marked over the 

 period embraced in the records. Taking the mean for the whole period 

 of all the herrings landed in the district, the yield in the years 1863- 

 1874 was below the average ; it was also below 7 the average in the years 

 1892-1905, with the slight exception of 1901. It was above the average 

 in the period 1877-1891, with the slight exception of 1886, and it was 

 again above the average in 1906-1907. By far the greater quantity of 



E 



