of the Fishery Board, for Scotland, 
5 
APPENDIX A.— No. 1. 
HERKING FISHERY.— Details, taken from the reports of the 
inspectors and district officers, regarding the herring fishery 
of 1890, in each of the twenty-six districts into which the 
coasts of Scotland are divided for fishery purposes, beginning 
at the south wich the seventeen on the East Coast. These 
are — Eyemouth, Leith, Anstruther, Montrose, Stonehaven, 
Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff, Buckie, Findhorn, 
Cromarty, Helmsdale, Lybster, Wick, Orkney Isles, and Shet- 
land Isles. 
I. EAST COAST HERRING FISHERY. 
Eyemouth District. 
From Amble, in the county of Northumberland, to the east side of St Abb's 
Head, both inclusive, with Coquet Island, Holy Island, and the Fame 
Islands. 
District Fishery Office — Berwick-on-Tweed. 
The herring fishing in this district for 1890 shows a decrease in the 
quantity landed of upwards of 7000 barrels from the preceding year, and 
on comparison with the average yield of the previous ten years, a decrease 
of 7244 barrels. This marked falling off in the catch is mainly attribut- 
able to the boisterous weather that prevailed during the weeks ended 
16th and 30th August — an important part of the season — when the 
majority of the boats had to remain ashore. The number of boats 
employed was only 270 ; being 42 less than in 1889, and the lowest 
number fishing in the district for the past thirteen years ; which partly 
accounts for the decrease in the quantity landed. The early herring fishing 
began at Eyemouth and Berwick in the middle of May, and continued 
until about the middle of July. Owing to a scarcity of herrings on the 
coast the fishing during that period turned out unsuccessful. The 50 
boats employed averaged only 44 crans, as compared with 106 crans for 
28 boats in 1889. The highest individual take was 36 crans, while the 
herrings were mostly immature and small in size. There was, however, 
a good demand — the lowest price realised per cran being 4s., and the 
highest 64s., the average price being 19s. 
The general herring fishing commenced about the middle of July and 
terminated on the 20th of September, and was only moderately successful 
The weekly average number of boats fishing was 270, and their average 
catch for the season was 168 crans, against 173 crans for 312 boats in 
1889. The number of boats employed shows a falling off of 73 on the 
average number fishing during the ten years previous to 1890. Forty of 
the boats were from Cornwall, and a number from the Isle of Man and 
Firth of Forth ports. There are 208 herring fishing boats belonging to the 
district, but owing to the unprofitable character of the fishing for some 
years past, 54 of them were not at any time employed during last season. 
The highest gross catch for any boat for the season was 600 crans, and 
the lowest about 30, while there were a considerable number of heavy 
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