6 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
The most productive stations were Berwick, Eyemouth, Craster, and North 
Sunderland, where the average catch per boat for the season was 250, 204, 
183, and 134 crans respectively. At the other five stations in the district 
the average varied from 93 to 116 crans per boat. During the early 
fishing, herrings were found everywhere on the inshore and distant fishing 
grounds on the coast between St Abb's Head and Holy Island. There- 
after the most productive grounds were about 20 miles off Berwick, and 
from 5 to 12 miles off the Fame Islands, where also the best quality of 
herrings was obtained. One half of the catch consisted of full herrings of 
exceptionally large size and superior quality, the finest caught in the 
district for many years past. The other half of the catch was, to a large 
extent, matie herrings of inferior quality. About 500 crans of inferior 
maties and torn bellies were sold in the district for manure. Prices varied 
from 2s. to 25s. per cran; the average price for the district being 12s. 
per cran, as compared with 10s. 6d. in 1888, and 9s. 6d. in 1887. Whilst 
a number of crews had an unremunerative season, a large number did fairly 
well. Although the boats were kept ashore on several nights by bad 
weather, the season on the whole was favourable for prosecuting the 
fishing, and it is gratifying to note that no lives were lost, and but little 
damage was sustained by any of the boats. About 1000 nets, worth 
fully £1900, were lost, or irreparably damaged, chiefly by weight of 
herrings. Four steam tugs were employed part of the season towing 
boats to and from the fishing ground, against 5 in 1888, and 8 in 1887. 
Leith District. 
From the west side of St Abb's Head, inclusive, westwards, and including all 
the south side of the Firth of Forth ; and its north side to Buckhaven 
exclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Newhaven. 
There is both a summer and a winter herring fishing in Leith district. 
The summer fishing began on 8th July, and was prosecuted more or less 
steadily till the 7th September. The fishermen, having no arrangement 
with curers or buyers for delivery of their catches, readily removed from 
port to port, as indications of herrings were reported. The number of 
boats employed, therefore, varied from ten up to fifty, while the average 
number was forty. The total produce of this fishing was only 2955 crans, 
compared with 8410 crans for the previous year. The average weekly 
catches per boat, beginning with the week ended 13th July, were, 7, 18 J, 
11 J, 19 J, 16 J, 20 J, 2 J, and 4 crans respectively; and the average catch 
per boat for the season was 73 J crans, compared with 120 J crans in 1888. 
An unusually heavy take of 105 J crans was landed at Dunbar on 9th 
August. The fishing grounds extended from to 2 to 40 miles off the coast, 
herrings being scarce on all the grounds throughout the season. The 
bulk of the catch was disposed of for consumption in a fresh state, only a 
small quantity being cured. The principal fishing stations were Dunbar 
and Newhaven. Besides the boats employed in the district, a much 
larger number belonging to it prosecuted the herring fishing off the Irish 
coasts, on the west and east coasts of Scotland, and on the east coast of 
England. 
The winter and spring herring fishing was prosecuted during the months 
of January, February, and March, and November and December. It w r as 
followed with fair success by about 100 boats, the total catch amounting 
to 7023 crans. The most successful months were January, February, and 
