of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



73 



The quantity taken in 1897 was considerably greater, totalling 24,202 

 crans, of which only 393 crans were caught before the end of May. 

 There is not much information as to the places of fishing in June, but at 

 the end of the month the best fishing was between Sanda and Davaar. 

 In July there were heavy takes in Kilbrennan Sound, particularly off 

 Skipness, but also down as far as Campbeltown ; but many of the boats 

 went to Loch Fyne, where there were dense shoals of herrings. In 

 August and September the fishing in the district was between Skipness 

 and Carradale, and off Skipness ; it was much the same in October, but 

 then also at Machrie Bay, but the fishing fell off towards the end of the 

 month. In November the herrings were still scarce in the Sound, and 

 those obtained were got near Skipness, and, later, between Carradale and 

 Pirnmill. In December the fishing continued poor, and it closed on the 

 25th. The monthly catches were as follows : — 



To end May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 393 788 9,692 3,621 5,001 3,706 937 64 



It is evident that the great shoals which had been in Loch Fyne this 

 summer did not leave the region by Kilbrennan Sound, and the same 

 conclusion may be drawn from the comparatively small quantity taken in 

 1898 up to the end of May, viz., 816 crans. In June of this year a large 

 quantity of herrings were taken, the grounds being in Kilbrennan Sound, 

 especially from Carradale to Skipness. There is no information given as 

 to the place of fishing in July ; in August it is only mentioned in the 

 last week, when it was said to be at Skipness ; in September it was 

 between Machrie Bay and Carradale, and from Skipness to Machrie Bay; 

 in October from Skipness to Carradale ; in November at Machrie Bay ; 

 in December the best places were in the upper parts of Kilbrennan 

 Sound, between Cour and Clonaig ; later in Ardnacross Bay, near Camp- 

 beltown, near Carradale, and in Machrie Bay. At the end of December 

 fishermen reported a " splendid appearance " of herrings on the coast. 

 The aggregate quantity for the year was 23,817 crans, thus apportioned : — 



To end May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 816 6,421 4,937 1,780 2,771 387 2,116 4,589 



With the revival of productive fishery at the end of the year the 

 catches began to increase, and from 1899 to 1903 they were much above 

 the average. The total quantity landed in these five years was 171,582 

 crans, giving an annual average of 34,316 crans, thus apportioned: — 



To end May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 4,504 4,070 8,068 9,493 4,607 1.360 942 1,271 



Thus, 13 per cent, were taken up to the end of May, 63 per cent, in 

 June-August, and 10 per cent, in October- December. In four of the 

 years the best month was August, in the other year it was July, and in 

 three years the second best month was July, in one it was August, and 

 in the other September. 



In 1899, the quantity taken to 31st May was 4120 crans; no infor- 

 mation is given as to the localities or time of capture, and the informa- 

 tion in most of the year is meagre. In June the herrings taken in the 

 week ended 10th were secured near Carradale and Machrie Bay ; in July 

 those got in the week ended 22nd were taken in the Sound ; in August 

 the fishing was all over the Sound; in the week ended 16th September 



