xiv 
Eighth Annual Report of the 
State of 
weather. 
Seventy-two 
lives lost. 
Boats wrecked 
and damaged ; 
and loss of 
fishing gear. 
Persons em- 
ployed. 
Boats and 
capital in- 
vested. 
During the great summer and autumn herring fishery the 
weather was generally mild and suitable for fishing, there being no 
violent gales, and very few interruptions on account of storms. 
Throughout the remainder of the year the weather was generally 
favourable. Notwithstanding this, however, 72 lives were un- 
fortunately lost in connection with the fisheries, being 13 more 
than in the preceding year. Thirty-six boats were totally wrecked, 
and 218 sustained damage — the aggregate loss being estimated at 
£7798. In addition, there was a los*s of nets and other fishing 
material amounting to £38,662. During the last six years, 556 
fishermen were drowned, or lost their lives in connection with 
the Scottish fisheries, 275 boats were totally wrecked, and 940 
damaged, the total loss in boats and fishing material being 
estimated at £288,399. 
The number of fishermen and boys employed in connection with 
the Scottish sea fisheries of last year was 47,943. In addition, 
63,915 persons were employed during a portion of the year, chiefly 
in connection with the summer herring fishery. The number of 
boats and vessels engaged was 14,714, being 190 less than in the 
previous year; and the capital invested in boats and vessels, nets 
and lines, was estimated at £1,603,307, being £40,173 less than in 
that year. 
HERRING FISHERY. 
Cured Fish. 
Herrings cured 
in each of the 
last seven 
years. 
The following is a statement of the total quantity of herrings 
cured in each of the last seven years : — 
Increase in 
1889 over 
1888. 
Years. 
1883, 
1884, 
1885, 
1886, 
1887, 
1888, 
1889, 
Barrels Cured. 
1,269,4121 
l,697,077i 
1,572,952J 
1,312,223£ 
1,303,424J 
1,118,872* 
1,397,507 
These returns show that the quantity of herrings cured in 1889 
was 278,634f barrels more than in the previous year, being an 
increase of 24'9 per cent., and an increase over the average of the 
preceding six years of T34 per cent. There was an increase on 
the East Coast in 1889, as against 1888, of 311,243f barrels; but 
on the West Coast, a decrease of 32,609 barrels; the net increase, 
therefore, being 278,634} barrels, as stated above. 
Results of 1888 The particulars of the results of the fishing of last year, when 
i*red m * com pared with those of 1888, in the herrings cured, branded, and 
exported and in the amount of brand fees received, show an in- 
crease in all the items, viz. : — 
