of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



75 



Ardnacross Bay, a few miles to the north of Campbeltown ; in the early- 

 part of December (in which month 2406 crans were landed) the herrings 

 were got in the same neighbourhood, and later on in Machrie Bay. The 

 total for the year was 31,349 crans, as follows: — 



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

 6,097 3,721 6,261 7,648 3,241 894 1,081 2,406 



In 1902, the quantity taken up to the end of May was 3881 crans. 

 In June the fishing was in Machrie Bay, at the south end of Arran, 

 from Pirnmill to Brown Head, and at Cour Bay. In July, when 11,980 

 crans were landed, the fishing in the first week was mostly off the south 

 end of Arran and at Cour, then between Carradale and Skipness, then 

 on the Arran shore, and in the last week between Skipness and Carradale ; 

 the herrings were inferior, and largely small fUh. In August the fishing 

 was chiefly between Skipness and Carradale. This was also the case in 

 the first two weeks of September, after which the fishing fell off, herrings 

 getting scarce. Very little was got in October, and nothing from the 

 Sound in November, the boats fishing chiefly in another district, between 

 Garroch Head and the north of Arran. December was also blank until 

 the week ended 27th, when 287 crans were taken in Saddell Bay, and in 

 the closing week of the year 824 crans were caught between Saddell and 

 Davaar. The total for the year was 38,016 crans, as follows: — 



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

 3,881 4,895 11,980 11,727 4,071 317 30 1,115 



From 1st January to 31st May, 1903, the quantity landed was 4430 

 crans. In June the fishing was moRtly in Machrie Bay, near Carradale, 

 at Skipness, Cour, Ross Isle, and Davaar. In July there is only infor- 

 mation for the first week, when 962 crans were secured, mostly at Cour, 

 Carradale, and Machrie Bay. After the first week in September the 

 fishing fell off, and no herrings were landed from Kilbrennan Sound 

 between the early part of September and the week ended 28th November, 

 when 272 crans were got in Kildalloig Bay, near Campbeltown, and the 

 herrings are described as very large, and full of milt and roe. In 

 December, when 2301 crans were caught, the herrings were chiefly got 

 between Isle Boss and Carradale, in Ardnacross Bay, Machrie Bay, and 

 neighbourhood. The herrings were very large, running about 650 to a 

 cran, very ripe, and some of them were spent. The aggregate quantity 

 for the year was 29,762 crans, apportioned as follows: — 



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

 4,430 3,180 9,088 9,797 694 272 2,301 



In the years 1904-1906 the catch of herrings fell considerably. In the 

 three years the aggregate quantity landed was 45,434 crans, the annual 

 average being 15,145 crans. The averages for the various months were 

 as follows : — 



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

 4,939 ' 2,609 4,387 2,496 318 85 47 263 



The percentage up to 31st May was 33 ; for the three months June- 

 August 63, and for the three months October-December, only 2*6. In 

 each year July was the best month. 



