of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
23 
fresh. The highest individual take was 10 J crans. The bulk of the 
herrings were of rather a poor quality all through the season, but high 
prices were generally obtained — the average price per cran being 41s. 4d. 
as compared with 31s. in the previous year. Four curing vessels were 
fitted out, and 13,207 barrels of cured herrings were landed in the district 
from them and from other vessels curing in the North West Highlands. 
This was an increase of 3763 barrels over 1888, and was the largest 
quantity landed in this district for many years past. 
Ballantrae District. 
From Ayr to Sark River, Sol way Firth, both inclusive. 
]) [strict Fishery Office — Girvan. 
The fishing of 1889 in this district presented few features of interest 
apart from recent years, and was, upon the whole, fairly successful. The 
weather is always an important element in the prosecution of the winter 
herring fishing — especially upon an exposed coast like that of the Firth of 
Clyde, and last winter, though herrings were abundant on the coast, they 
could not be reached owing to continuous gales of wind, and for days in 
each week the boats remained on shore in enforced idleness. The herring 
shoal appeared first upon the Ayrshire Coast between Turnberry and 
Dunure early in January, and gradually went southwards to the Ballantrae 
banks — keeping unusually near the shore in its migration, so that it 
could scarcely be reached by the drift-net. 
There was a great variety in the catches both with the drift and seine- 
net, some boats having large herrings, others small or mixed, on the same 
nights. The first good catch was made in the week ended 23rd 
February. A favourable change in the weather had set in, the herrings 
had settled on the Ballantrae banks, and for the first time since the com- 
mencement of the season the whole fleet were at sea, and 2260 crans of 
herrings were landed from 121 boats. The fine weather continuing, there 
was a regular and good fishing in the following week, with both seine 
and trammel-nets — 6426 crans being landed by 155 boats. During both 
weeks the herrings landed were of large size and good quality. Five 
hundred waggons with herrings were despatched from Girvan Kailway 
Station during the week ended 1st March. In the following week the 
fishing terminated for the season with a catch of 8883 crans. 
The summer herring fishing was only a moderate success. Commencing 
in May the fishing was continued until the end of August, and yielded a 
catch of 1483 crans — the highest number of boats fishing being 92. There 
was no loss of life in connection with the fisheries, and the damage sus- 
tained by boats and fishing material was only trifling. 
