oj the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



81 



takes were obtained between Loch Gair and Otter, and at the end of the 

 year a great shoal was reported to be in the upper loch. 



In 1868 the aggregate for the year was 39,795 crans, of which 7231 

 crans were taken in the upper loch. In January 3038 crans were 

 landed, 505 from the upper loch, and nearly all the rest were landed at 

 Ardrishaig. In June the fishing was chiefly between Skipness and 

 Otter Spit, very little being got in the upper loch. In July the 

 fishing was very general all over the loch from the top of it to Skipness, 

 and it continued thus till the latter part of October, some heavy catches 

 with seines being got in October, near Inveraray. In November little 

 was taken in Loch Fyne, the boats mostly leaving for Greenock, where a 

 very good fishing was reported. In December the herrings were taken 

 at Minard, but chiefly on the Cowal shore in the lower loch, and at the 

 end of the month there was no " appearance " of herrings in Upper Loch 

 Fyne, and it was believed the shoals had left. 



From this year the productiveness of the fishing in Loch Fyne 

 declined steadily to the year 1873, when it reached its lowest point. 



In 1869 the aggregate catch amounted to 34,024 crans, of which 

 5093 were got in the upper loch. In January 763 crans were caught on 

 the Cowal shore and about Ardlamont Point. In June the fishing was 

 in the lower loch, little being caught above Otter till the end of the 

 month, and then at Inveraray. In July the fishing improved in the 

 upper loch, and a good " appearance " was reported from Skipness 

 to Inveraray. In August the herrings were most plentiful about 

 the mouth of the loch, and this was the case also in September. 

 In October the fishing fell off in both upper and lower lochs, 

 what was got being taken near the mouth of Loch Fyne and 

 Ardlamont ; towards the end of the month many boats left for Greenock, 

 though a good " appearance " was reported between Tarbert and 

 Ardrishaig. In November the fishing declined stijl further. In 

 December the fishing revived, especially in the upper loch, where some 

 heavy takes were secured. 



In 1870 the quantity landed was 26,909 crans, of which 1607 were 

 taken in the upper loch. The upper loch was thus the first to be affected 

 in the decline of the period. In January a total of 935 crans were 

 landed, of which 670 crans were got above Otter, and chiefly about 

 Minard, and the rest were landed at Ardrishaig. The fishing in June 

 was good, and all over the loch, but less was taken above Otter. In 

 July and August nothing is said about the fishing grounds, but the catch 

 in the upper loch was small. In September and October the fishing was 

 at the mouth of Loch Fyne, and about Skipness and Ardlamont ; this 

 was also the case in November, though in this month the shoal shifted 

 for a short time to Kilfinan Bay, where good takes were got. In 

 December some were got at Loch Gair, but most of those taken were 

 caught at the mouth of the loch. 



In the six years, 1865-1870, all above the average, the aggregate 

 quantity of herrings taken was 189,621 crans, giving an annual average 

 of 31,603 crans. They were thus apportioned, the figures representing 

 the average catch : — 



Jan. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

 858 1,923 4,854 9,255 6,777 4,878 1,908 1,149 



The percentage taken in January was 2*7, in June- August 51, and 

 in October-December 25. In three of the years August was the best 

 month, and in one each July, September, and October. 



