62 Part III. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



herrings is taken in the winter and spring fishing, and the curve for the 

 whole year represents the yield of this fishing and its fluctuations very 

 well. Judging from the curve (Plate III.), it is not improbable that 

 the fishing during the next few years will be successful. 



From the particulars as to the place of fishing, it would appear that in 

 some years the predominant shoals approach the spawning grounds from 

 the northwards, and in other years from the south ; in still other years 

 apparently from both directions, but full particulars are sometimes 

 lacking. Thus, in the period 1865-1867 the shoals came from the north, 

 as they did also in 1878, 1883, 1885, and in the period 1887-1891, and 

 again in 1902 and 1903. They approached from the south in 1879-1882, 

 apparently in 1904, and again last year. No doubt the banks off the 

 coast are the spawning grounds for shoals of herrings that come from 

 various quarters, and it may be from the Irish coast, which is only some 

 25 miles distant, and therefore much nearer than Loch Fyne. But 

 in all probability the bulk of the herrings come usually from the Firth 

 of Clyde. 



This district was formed in 1863, having previously been included in 

 the district of Inveraray. It extends from Skipness Point down the eastern 

 side of the peninsula of Kintyre, round the Mall, and along the western 

 coast of the peninsula to Tayinloan, opposite the island of Gigha. It 

 includes that island and also the islands of Islay, Jura, and Colonsay, in 

 the first named of which an important herring fishery is carried on in 

 some years. The statistics dealt with here are, however, practically con- 

 fined to the herrings caught within the Mull of Kintyre — that is to say, 

 within the Firth of Clyde. In 1906 there were in the district 358 fish- 

 ing boats and 752 resident fishermen and boys, of which 159 boats and 

 475 fishermen belonged to the part of the coast from Skipness Point to 

 Sanda Island, most of them being at the town of Campbeltown. 



In the period 1863-1906, the gross quantity of herrings taken, and all 

 practically in the Firth of Clyde, was 910,718 crans, or about 3,187,500 

 cwts., the general annual average being 20,698 crans. In the first 

 twenty-two years, 1863-1884, the gross quantity landed was 317,939 

 crans, giving a general annual average of 14,452 crans. In the last 

 twenty-two years, 1885-1906, the aggregate quantity landed was 592,779 

 crans, the general annual average being 26,944 crans. In this district, 

 therefore, the quantity of herrings taken very considerably increased in 

 the second half of the period. 



Grouping the returns in ten-yearly periods, the mean catch per aunum 

 in each period was as follows : — 



The first period embraces only four years, 1863-1866. When the 

 returns are arranged in five-yearly periods, the resultant annual average 

 in each period is as follows : — 



Campbeltown District. 



1857-66 

 1867-76 

 1877-86 



2,346 crans. 

 8,185 „ 

 29,286 „ 



1887-96 

 1897-1906 



26,1 58 crans. 

 26,503 „ 



1862-66 

 1867-71 

 1872-76 

 1877-81 

 1882-86 



22',612 " 

 35,961 „ 



4,958 

 11,413 



2,346 crans. 



1887-91 

 1892-96 

 1897-1901 

 1902-06 



34,852 crans, 

 17,465 „ 

 30,365 „ 



22',642 " 



