of the. Fishery Board for Scotland. 
7 
aggregate catch for this latter period was only 706 crans. The winter 
herrings were caught chiefly between Queensferry and Inchkeitb, about 3 
miles off Dunbar, and outwards to May Island. The catch of both 
winter and summer fisheries amounted to 4732 crans, as compared with 
9944 crans in 1889. 
During the year elevsn fishermen belonging to the district were drowned ; 
of whom eight were lost by the foundering of their boat at the Yarmouth 
herring fishing, two by their boat having been run down off Fidra, and one 
by falling overboard near Leith pier. 
Anstruther District. 
From Buckhaven to the south side of Tay, both inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Anstruther. 
There is both a summer and winter herring fishing in Anstruther dis- 
trict. The summer fishing has, however, fallen off very considerably, and 
although 403 boats were fitted out for it, only 5 boats weekly, on an 
average, delivered their catches in the district during the season, which 
commenced early in July, and closed at the end of August. The total 
number of crans landed amounted to 1042, as compared with 3328 in 
1889, being the lowest catch on record with the exception of the years 
1875 and 1866. The herrings were taken on grounds lying 20 to 40 
miles eastward of the May Island, and were of fair quality. Prices 
varied from 4s. to 26s. per cran, the average being 13s., or 2s. per cran 
more than in 1889. The system of daily sales by auction is inducing 
the fishermen to send their takes to the principal markets, where the 
highest prices can be realised. 
The winter season includes the months of December, January, February 
and March, during which the fishing was prosecuted by 143 boats. The 
catch from 1st January to 31st March amounted to 6375 crans, while 
only 2 crans were landed in December, making the total 6377 crans, being 
less than a third of the catch in 1889, and 22,940 crans less than the 
average for the last five years, and the lowest on record with the excep- 
tion of the seasons of 1876, 1877, and 1879. The herrings were of fair 
quality, and prices ranged from 5s. to 58s. 6d. per cran, the average being 
17s. 6d., an increase of 6s. 6d. per cran, as compared with 1889. About 
five-sixths of the total quantity landed was sent to market fresh, and the 
remainder cured ungutted, bloated, and kippered. During the most 
successful of recent years considerable quantities of herring were caught 
in the upper waters of the Firth of Forth. This season, however, the 
fishing ground lay at the mouth of the Firth, and in the vicinity of the 
May Island. A large number of crews combined great-line fishing with 
herring fishing, but owing to the scarcity of herrings, paid most attention 
to the former. Storms were frequent, and there was a greater amount of 
loss of, and damage to, fishing material than in former years. 
Montrose District. 
From the north side of Tay to Bervie, both inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Montrose. 
The summer herring fishing was begun by a few boats during the weeks 
ended 5th and 12th July, but it did not become general until the 
