20 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
while the greatest number employed at any one time was 634. Thirty-five 
caring vessels were fitted out in the district for the herring fishing, and 
9 steamers were engaged carrying fresh herrings to Glasgow, Oban, 
Stromeferry, and Liverpool. Four fishermen were drowned during the 
year, — 2 at Loch Hourn, and 2 at Loch Snizort. 
Fort William District. 
From Loch Nevis to Oban, both inclusive ; including the lochs within this 
rauge of coast ; also the islands of Canna, Rum, Eig, Muck, Coll, Tyree, 
Iona, Mull, Lismore, Kerrera, and the smaller islands. 
District Fishery Office — Oban. 
The herring fishing in the Fort- William district was as unsuccessful 
last year as it had been in the two previous seasons. The principal 
fishing grounds were the Sound of Sleat and Lochs Linnhe and Scriddan. 
In Loch Linnhe the fishing was carried on during July and August ; in 
the Sound of Sleat from July to the middle of November ; and in Loch 
Scriddan during August and part of September. A number of boats 
from the locality of Loch Nevis went to Loch Hourn during August, 
September, and October to prosecute the industry there. On one occasion 
60 boats were employed in the fishing, but the average number was only 
24. The total quantity of herrings cured amounted to 969 barrels, as 
compared with 986 in 1888. The quality of herrings was fair. Prices 
ranged from 2s. to 90s. per cran, the average price being 22s. 6d. Four 
curing vessels were fitted out during the season. 
Campbeltown District. 
From Tayinloan, inclusive, round the Mull of Cantyre to Skipness Point, in- 
clusive ; including the islands of Colonsay, Jura, Islay, Gigha, and Sanda. 
District Fishery Office — Campbeltown. 
The herring fishing in this district was prosecuted throughout the 
whole year, with the exception of the period from 15th March to 1st June, 
now recognised as a close time by the Fisherman's Association. There 
were 378 boats employed, 98 of whom used the drift-nets, and 280 the 
seine or circle-nets. The result of the year's fishing showed a decrease, as 
compared with 1888, but was above the average of the past 10 years. 
The total quantity of herrings cured in 1889 amounted to 45,883 barrels 
against 49,232 barrels in 1888. The fishing was successfully prosecuted 
in January and February, many of the crews securing large takes and fair 
remuneration, as the quality of the fish was excellent. The greater number 
of the boats went to the Ballantrae fishing at the end of February, and 
remained till the fishing closed there. On 1st June the regular summer 
season opened, and the industry was carried on with fair success by drift- 
net boats till the end of September. The seine or circle-net boats were 
not very successful during the summer, but in the closing months 
of the year they landed large quantities of herrings. As many as 
5000 crans were caught in the week ended 23rd November. In 
Kilbrannan Sound the herring shoals were often dense, and hundreds of 
crans were frequently encircled by a seine-net, which, unfortunately, 
