xii 
Eighth Annual Report of the 
Continued 
falling off in 
the fishing in 
Shetland. 
Rise and fall 
there during 
past ten years. 
falling 
off, 
amounting 
to 52,215£ barrels cured, and 6700 crans 
consumed fresh, under the previous year. Aft^r the end of June 
the fishing in this district was almost a complete failure, which 
was attributed by the fishermen to the presence on the coast, 
shortly after the fishing commenced, of large shoals of dog-fish. 
The rise and fall in the fishing of Shetland district during the last 
ten years has been most striking. In 1878 the number of barrels 
of herrings cured was 8458; in 1880, it was 48,552; in 1882, 
134,187; in 1884, 300,117; reaching a climax in 1885, witli 
370,238 barrels cured. After that year it has as rapidly declined, 
the number of barrels cured in 1886 amounting to 198,051, in 
1887 to 125,989, in 1888 to 99,221, and last year to 47,000. 
There was a decrease on the West Coast of 32,609 barrels cured, 
as 
Decrease on 
compared with and an increase in the quantity consumed fresh of 3436 crans 
18SH, but 
increase in 
totals for 
both coasts. 
Quality of 
he rrings. 
Number of 
fish -curing 
establishments 
on East Coast. 
Herrings 
landed on 
West Coast. 
compared with 1888. Stornoway showed the large decrease of 
50,283 barrels cured, and 1042 crans in the quantity used fresh. 
The totals for both coasts gave an increase of 278,634f barrels 
cured, and 13,160 crans consumed fresh, over those for the preced- 
ing year. 
A striking feature of the fishing of 1889 was the large propor- 
tion of small immature henings in the catch. The • Full' fish were 
of average quality, but the k Maties ' were, as a rule, very inferior. 
in the herring 
more than in 
There were 653 fish-curing establishments engaged 
industry upon the East Coast last season, being 41 
1888. 
With the exception of Stornoway district, the West Coast herring 
fishing is generally carried on in the sea lochs, and narrow waters. 
In one or other of the districts herrings were landed during every 
month of the year, but owing to the deficiency in Stornoway, the 
gross catch showed a decrease as compared with the preceding year. 
The superior quality of the herrings usually taken in the districts 
of Inveraray, Campbeltown, and Loch Carron and Skye has been 
well maintained during the past year. The takes in the two former 
districts were nearly all sent to the home markets for use fresh, 
where they are much esteemed for their rich flavour. 
The winter herring fishing yielded 75,407 crans, being a decrease 
of 4,349 crans as compared with 1888. During the last two years 
the shoals seemed to be very much scattered, and were not found 
in such abundance upon the same grounds as formerly. 
The gross quantity of herrings branded during the year was 
455,2851 barrels, being an increase of 71,305 barrels over 1888. The 
brand fee of 4d. a barrel realised £7588, Is. 10d.,— an increase of 
£1188, 8s. 4d. over the previous year. 
"Ported™ 88 The total c l uantit y of herrings exported was 970,175f barrels. 
Of these, 931,923| barrels were sent to Germany aud other places 
on the Continent; 32,653 barrels to Ireland; and 5599 barrels to 
places out of Europe — the largest portion of which went to America, 
mostly repacked in small casks or kegs, and shipped from Greenock, 
Leith, and Aberdeen. 
brings 7 ° f The total catch of herrings in 1889, on both the East and West 
Eided on both Coasts, was 1,062,430 crans, for which the fishermen received 
coasts. £716,445. Of this quantity, it is estimated 350,531 crans, valued 
Takes gener- 
ally used fresh 
Rich flavour. 
Decrease in 
winter fishing 
as compared 
with 1888. 
Quantity of 
herrings 
branded. 
Amount of 
brand fees. 
