of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
7 
March — the herrings being caught chiefly between Queensferry and west- 
ward of Inchkeith, and between Dunbar and May Island. No fish 
appeared in the vicinity of torpedo minefield, west of Inchkeith, which 
is marked off permanently by buoys. 
The gross total catch of both the summer and winter fishings amounted 
to 9944 crans, as compared with 17,160 crans in 1888. The method 
of fishing followed was almost wholly that of drift nets. During the year 
two fishermen were drowned by falling overboard at sea. 
Anstruther District. 
From Buckhaven to the south side of Tay, both inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Anstruther. 
There is both a summer and winter herring fishing in Anstruther 
district. The summer fishing opened early in July and closed in the first 
week in September. The average number of boats employed was 26, and 
the total catch amounted to 3328 crans, being an average of 128 crans per 
boat. The most productive week was that ended 27th July — the quality 
of the fish being also best at that period. During the remainder of the 
season, maties and spent fish were most abundant. Prices varied from 
4s. to 28s. per cran, averaging lis., being equal to the average of the 
previous three years. The principal fishing grounds lay from 20 to 
40 miles eastward of the May Island, but some fair takes were landed 
towards the end of the season, at the entrance to the Firth of Forth, and 
off Dunbar. There were 438 boats fitted out for the summer herring 
fishing in the district, of which about 100 fished from Shields, and the 
remainder from the district and other east coast ports. 
The winter herring fishing is the most important in this district, being 
prosecuted by 169 boats. From 1st January till 31st March the catch 
amounted to 19,758 crans, and in December to 311 crans, making a total 
of 20,069 crans for the season, being 6208 crans less than in 1888. Prices 
being low, many crews combined the great line fishing with the herring 
fishing, but confined their attention chiefly to the former. The quality of 
the herrings was equal to previous years. The general prices obtained ranged 
from 6s. to 15s. per cran, the average being Us. per cran, the same as for 
the summer herrings. Part of the catch was cured ungutted and sent to 
Ireland, 216 crans were kippered, 2568 crans bloated, and the remainder 
sent to market fresh or lightly salted. The fishing ground was principally 
at the entrance to the Firth of Forth, the heaviest takes coming from the 
spawning ground lying between the May Island and Flfeness. The 
fishing was frequently interrupted by stormy weather, and there was a 
good deal of damage to netting. 
Monteose District. 
From the north side of Tay to Bervie, both inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Montrose. 
The summer herring fishing was begun by a few boats during the weeks 
ended 6th and 13th July, but it did not become general until the week 
