of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



85 



Tarbert, and in December near the mouth of the loch between Skate 

 Island and Skipness. It is remarked that during the whole season the 

 drift net was more successful than the seine. 



In 1881 the aggregate rose to 32,943 crans. In June the fishing was 

 successful, and the herrings large and superior ; they were nearly all taken 

 by seines. In the early part of the month they were got between Skip- 

 ness and Tarbert and near Otter ; later also all over the upper loch as far 

 as Inveraray. In July the particulars are scanty, but the fishing went 

 on in both the upper and the lower loch. In August, when 9546 crans 

 were landed, the fishing was almost only about Tarbert, little being 

 caught in the upper loch. Till the end of October the fishing was chiefly 

 between Tarbert and Skipness ; then a shoal appeared between Ardlamont 

 and Kilfinan ; but in November and December the herrings were mostly 

 secured between Inverneil and Skipness. 



In 1882 the catch was the very high one of 55,754 crans. At the 

 beginning of June some herrings were taken near Skipness and Otter 

 Spit ; most of those landed were caught between Skipness and Tarbert, 

 and at the end of the month some were taken a few miles up the upper 

 loch, and the fishermen reported that the herrings were gradually finding 

 their way up the loch, and they expected a good fishing. In July 7860 

 crans were landed. Information is not given as to the place of fishing, 

 but it appears to have been chiefly in the lower loch ; in the first week it 

 was principally about Laggan. In August it is stated that the fishing is 

 all over the lower loch, and that the seine has been the more successful 

 all season, and that nothing is doing above Otter. In this month 11,878 

 crans were landed. In September, when 8320 crans were taken, the only 

 information is for the week ended 23rd, the principal grounds then being 

 from Ardlamont to Otter ; on the 9th it was remarked that there were still 

 "immense shoals" in the lower loch. In October 12,663 crans were 

 landed. In the week ended 14th it is stated that the grounds were quite 

 close to Ardrishaig, and that no herrings were being got in the upper 

 loch ; later, that the grounds were from Ardrishaig to Tarbert. In the 

 week ended 28th, 5240 crans were landed, 3000 crans on one day, and 

 both drift-nets and seines did well. In November the grounds were still 

 between Tarbert and Ardrishaig chiefly, and 11,424 crans were caught. 

 The fishing fell off at the beginning of December, the shoals having left 

 the loch. The fishing in this most productive year was thus almost 

 exclusively in the lower loch. 



In 1883 the total dropped to 36,109 crans. In June the grounds were 

 chiefly between Tarbert and Ardrishaig, and 3304 crans were landed. In 

 July, when 8465 crans were taken, the grounds were between Ardrishaig 

 and Skipness, but a good fishing was also obtained in the upper loch. In 

 August the localities are not mentioned, but the grounds appear to have 

 extended from Otter Spit to Skipness and Ardlamont ; one seine-net crew 

 got a haul of 218 crans of "splendid" herrings, which realised no less 

 than £5b7. In September nothing is said about the place of fishing; a 

 single seine-net haul was sufficient to load five or six boats, and realised 

 .£575. On 6th October the Officer remarks that "It is almost 

 incredible the large amount of money the Loch Fyne fishermen have 

 earned since the middle of June. They never experienced 

 such a remunerative season as this," and he mentions that the price 

 ranged in that week from £2 15s. to £3 10s. per cran. In this month 

 most of the herrings were got between Tarbert and Skipness, and also 

 near Ardrishaig. In November there is no information as to the place 

 of fishing ; towards the end of the month the fishing fell off, and only 1 2 

 crans were landed in December. 



