oj the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



95 



crans on other five occasions, viz., in 1880, 1883, 1890, 1891, and 1902. 

 The minimum quantity was 17,080 crans in 1854 ; in 1861 the quantity 

 was 20,307 crans, and in 1904 it was 29,992 crans. 



The curve formed from the annual figures (PI. IV.) shows that, in the first 

 twenty-six years, the only years in which the quantity of herrings landed 

 was above the mean for the whole period were 1862, and 1865 to 1870 ; 

 in the second twenty-six years, the only years below the mean for the 

 whole period were 1886, 1893, 1895, 1896, and 1904-1906. he 

 periods of greatest scarcity were from 1871 to 1878, and especially 

 1873-1875; 1893 to 1901, and 1904 to 1906. The mean annual 

 quantities in those years were as follows: — 



Crans. Crans. 



1871-78 .. 37,510 1895-96 .. 39,380 



1873-75 .. 30,458 1904-06 .. 40,132 

 1893-1901. . 64,079 



It is not intended at present to enter in any detail into the fluctuations 

 of the catch of herrings from year to year in the various districts of the 

 Clyde, but attention may be drawn to one or two features of interest. 



One of these relates to the penetration of the upper reaches of the 

 Clyde by shoals of herrings, as described in the foregoing accounts of 

 the districts. Thus, if the tables and curves for the Rothesay and 

 Greenock districts be examined, and the foregoing account referred to, 

 it will be evident that large shoals of herrings penetrated to the upper 

 parts of the Clyde in the years 1864-1872. In 1862 a few herrings 

 were taken in the Kyles of Bute and Loch Riddon in November and 

 December, but the total only amounted to 109 crans. In the autumn of 

 the following year, and especially in December, much larger quantities 

 were caught in the lower parts of the Kyles and in Loch Riddon ; in 

 1864 the shoals appeared in greater numbers, fishing in the Kyles 

 beginning at the latter part of September and continuing to the end of 

 December, the herrings in this year penetrating to Loch Striven and 

 Port Bannatyne, but none apparently reaching the northern lochs 

 (Loch Long, Loch Goil), and the fishing ending in December. In 1865 

 the same thing is repeated, shoals setting into the Kyles about the middle 

 of September, penetrating to Loch Striven and Port Bannatyne, and a 

 successful fishing going on to the end of January. In 1866 a similar 

 movement occurs, but in this year the herrings penetrate at the end of 

 November and the beginning of December to Loch Long. In 1867 the 

 fishing was in the Kyles and the northern lochs. Up to this year it 

 appears to he probable that the herrings made their way to the north 

 by the Kyles of Bute, extending farther and farther up the Clyde. But 

 in 1868 the herrings coming from the south seem to have come by 

 another route to the east side of Bute, and the grounds this year were in 

 the Greenock district, opposite that town, and also in Lochs Long and 

 Goil. In 1869 both routes appear to have been followed, abundance of 

 herrings being taken in the Kyles, in the northern lochs, and off 

 Greenock. In 1870 the Sshing was much less successful, and was chiefly 

 in Loch Striven, the northern lochs, and in the channel of the Clyde, 

 and in this year the herrings appear to have come by the eastern route. 

 In 1871 comparatively little was taken in the Kyles, the herrings being 

 chiefly in the northern lochs and the channel of thj Clyde, and the total 

 catch was much diminished. In 1872 the catch was still less and 

 chiefly in the northern lochs, while in the following year the shoals 

 did not visit either the Kyles or the lochs, and did not come 



