PART I -GENERAL REPORT. 
THE SEA FISHERIES OF SCOTLAND. 
General Statement. 
The herring fishing of 1889 commenced at Stornoway and Barra Commence- 
on the 15th of May, and practically ended at both places about the ™ e e r r* n ° f fishino . 
middle of July. Although the catch was considerably below that emng sung ' 
of 1888, about £10,000 more was realised, owing to the higher 
prices obtained. On the East Coast it began about ten days earlier 
than usual, — at Wick on the 2nd of May, Shetland 15th June, and 
Orkney 20th June. The date of commencement at the other 
stations varied from the 1st to the 16th of July. The fishing was closed first 
regularly prosecuted till the first week of September, when it g^™ ber 
practically ceased, although a few boats continued to fish two or 
three weeks longer. The fleet employed at the East Coast stations, Number of 
including Orkney and Shetland, numbered 3993 boats, being an brots^eigaged 
increase over the preceding year of 236 boats. Of this fleet, 1234 fS^ls.* an 
boats were engaged to curers at fixed rates of from 10s. to 16s. a Prices of 
cran. The remainder sold their catches daily at the current prices, hemn s s ' 
which ranged from 2s. to 30s. a cran, the average for the season 
being about 13s. 9d. Last year 571 good seaworthy boats were Five-hundred 
left on the beach, — 188 on the East Coast, and 383 on the West ^d seventy- 
Coast. £14,463, 16s. was sanctioned during the year for loans to left on beach, 
crofter fishermen to buy boats and gear. Few boats have been 
built otherwise as compared with previous years. 
The inshore waters on the East Coast were not quite so pro- produce of 
ductive as during the preceding three or four years, excepting that inshore 
portion lying between the Pentland Firth and the Cromarty Firth. 8101111 s * 
Within these limits,— from two to six miles offshore, — there was a 
very abundant fishing during the early part of the season, a 
number of large takes of from 90 to 150 crans being landed. The General 
general fishing ground lay from 2 to 40 miles offshore, the best fishmg grountl - 
individual takes being got from 6 to 12 miles distant, these ranging 
from 80 to 150 crans. 
The aggregate catch upon the East Coast showed a considerable East Coast 
increase as oompared with 1888, amounting to 311,243f bfcrre? Is oa,t ^J l ^ 1 
cured, and 9724 crans in the quantity consumed fresh. Theinisss. 
increases were chiefly in the following districts, viz., Fraserburgh 
137,521 barrels ) Peterhead, 100,362 barrels ; Wick, 37,567 barrels ; 
and Aberdeen, 31,091 barrels. Shetland again showed a great 
