Fishery Board for Scotland. 
xlvii 
possible to prosBcute this fishing with advantage at several of the 
remote stations in the district. 
The officer at Sfcornoway specially reports regarding the most 
recent telegraphic extensions carried out in Stornoway district, ^^^^trict. 
namely, those connecting the town of Stornoway with Portnaguran, 
Garrabost, Gres?, Barvaa, and Ness; covering in all. a diatance of 
about 50 miles. These extensions were efFacted toward.s the end 
of 1888, and the officer states that they have been highly appre- 
ciated by the fishermen and others in these localities — so much 
so, that, looking back to the time before the extensions were 
carried out, the communities express wonder that trade could have 
been conducte.l so long without the aid of the telegraph. In a 
district where postal communication is slower and Jess regular than 
on the mainland, it is evident that telegraphic facilities are of the 
highest importance, and the opportunity they afford for rapid in- 
terchange t)f communication has been largely taken advantage of 
by the industrial population in all matters affecting their welfare. 
The particular branches of trade benefited, and the general con- 
veniences provided through the agency of the telegraphic extensions 
referred to, have been fully detailed in former reports on this 
subject, but it may be repeated here that the fish trade of the 
district has had a special share of the advantages accruing from 
more direct communication with the central markets of the country, 
and in being able to make arrangements for immediate disposal of 
perishable fish. Although the offices openeJ in the Lewis have 
not yet become self-supporting, there is, notwithstanding, evidence 
that, year by year, trad3 in connection with the fisheries of the dis- 
trict has generally improved, and there is, therefore, good hope that 
the telegraphic conveniences will contribute to a still larger increase 
and improvement as time goes on until there will be no need of 
any extraneous aid in support of telegraphic extensions. 
The Fort- William officer reports that at the station of Dervaig, Fort-Wiiiiam 
from which large quantities of white and shell fish are forwarded, f^is^rict. 
the telegraph is said to be extremely useful as a medium for 
ascertaining the best markets, and therefore very beneficial to the 
fisheries. The extension to Coll and Tiree is also admitted to be 
very valuable in enabling the fishermen to dispose of their fish 
to the best advantage, and as being the means of greatly increasing 
the quantities shipped to the markets for use in a fresh state. 
In Eothesay district, the officer reports that telegraphic extension Rothesay 
to the fishing stations of Loch Eanzaand Pirnmill, Arran, continues ^i'^*^^^*- 
to afford great facilities for communication in connection with the 
fishing industry. An instance occurred where fish, to the value of 
over £200, wouhl have been lost to the fishermen but for this ex- 
tension. As the fish lamled are all despatched to market fresh, 
buyers and fishermen alike are fully alive to the benefits accruing 
from the knowledge of the state of the markets, and where the 
fish can best be disposed of. It is also of great service when, 
through stress of weather or other causes, the boats have to run 
for shelter to other ports. At Loch Kanza as many as 160 boats 
manned by over 500 men and boys have repeatedly taken refuge 
from storms while prosecuting the herring fishing on the north coast 
of the island, and the wire has been the only means by which their 
