xvi 
Eighth Annual Report of the 
Increase in The quantity of herrings cured in 1889, when compared with 
^Qfl 0ve i 1888, shows an increase of 35*66 per cent.; when compared with 
1888, and over . ' £ j- ». • £ 1 -i no 
preceding fifty the average or the preceding ten years, an increase or 11*28 per 
years. cent . 0 f twenty-five years, 48*41 per cent. ; and of fifty years, 83*02 
per cent. 
II. West Coast. 
Total decrease 
in herrings 
cured. 
Three districts 
show an in- 
crease and five 
a decrease. 
O-cneral view 
of fishing. 
West Coast 
fishing of 
preceding fifty 
years. 
Yearly average 
of herrings 
cured in 
periods of ten 
years. 
Decrease in 
1889 under 
1888, but 
increase over 
preceding 
fifty years. 
The returns of the herring fishing on the West Coast of Scotland 
show that the total quantity of herrings cured in 1889 was 213,650 
barrels, as compared with 246,259 barrels in the previous year, 
being a decrease of 32,609 barrels. The three districts of Inveraray, 
Loch Carron and Skye, and Loch Broom show a collective increase 
of 23,592 barrels over the preceding year, of which Inveraray 
contributed nearly one half. On the other hand, the districts of 
Stornoway, Campbeltown, Ballantrae, Rothesay, and Fort-William 
exhibit a collective decrease of 56,201 barrels, the largest falling 
off, amounting to 50,283 barrels, being in Stornoway. Herrings 
have not been cured in Greenock district during the last four years, 
the whole of those landed having been used in a fresh state. Last 
year shoals were found in greatest abundance on the West Coast, 
in the districts of Loch Carron and Skye, Inveraray, and Campbel- 
town. Loch Fyne and Kilbrannan Sound, as in the previous year, 
yielded large catches of excellent* herrings. An abundant fishing 
was also got in Lochindail, Lochghriunard in Islay, Loch Hourn, 
and the Sound of Sleat. 
The returns of herrings cured on the whole of the West Coast of 
Scotland in the fifty years preceding last year, on the average of 
each period of ten years, exhibit, with the exception of the period 
from 1869 to 1878, a continuous large increase. The catch for 
1889, however, is 8*9 per cent, below the average for the last de- 
cade.' 
The following statement shows the particulars : — 
Periods of Ten Year, $28^ 
1839 to 1848 inclusive, 72,0141 
1849 „ 1858 „ 92,615| 
1859 „ 1868 „ 147,949| 
1869 „ 1878 „ 142,591 
1879 „ 1888 „ 234,551| 
Barrels cured in 1889, 213,650. 
The quantity of herrings cured in 1889, when compared with 
1888, shows a decrease of 13*24 per cent. ; when compared with the 
average of the preceding ten years, it shows a decrease of 8*91 per 
cent. ; but on twenty-five years, an increase of 14*06 per cent. ; and 
of fifty years, 54*88 per cent. 
III. Both Coasts. 
in each Fishery The following tabular statement gives the total quantities of all 
District^ the herrings cured in 1888 and 1889, in each of the twenty-six 
1889, and districts embracing the whole coasts of Scotland, and shows the 
respective respective increases or decreases in 1889 : — 
increases or 
