8 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Ueport 
two following weeks, and was brought to a close in the week ending 13th 
September, during which only 15 crana were landed. The fishing was 
more successful than in 1889 ; and the quality of the herrings generally 
was also superior, with the exception that the proportion of spent herrings 
was considerably greater than in the previous year. A fleet of 148 
boats was employed during the season, as compared with 156 in 1889, of 
which 144 belonged to the district, and 4 to the districts of Leith and 
Anstruther; and of these 38 fished from Gourdon, 14 from Johnshaven, 
76 from Montrose, 18 from Arbroath, and 2 from Broughty-Ferry and 
Dundee. The total number of herring boats belonging to this district is 
156 — of which 144 fished in the district, 2 at Stonehaven, and 10 Avere 
not launched. From 90 to 100 boats were engaged to curers ; and the 
average price per cran during the season, for both engaged and unengaged 
boats, was fully 12s. 3d., against 13s. 6d. per cran in 1889. The 
herrings were found chiefly on the fishing grounds termed 'shauld 
'water,' between Arbroath and Montrose, at distances of from 15 to 35 
miles from land. The boats were prevented from going to sea on five 
nights, owing to bad weather. The total catch of herrings was 32,531 
crans, and the average per boat 21 9| crans, as compared with 37,452, 
and 240 crans respectively in 1889. The average gross takes, per boat, 
landed at the several stations were : — Gourdon, 140^ crans; Johnshaven, 
127| ; Montrose, 275^ ; Arbroath, 230f ; and Broughty Ferry and Dundee, 
15l| crans. The average weekly catch, per boat, for eight weeks — the 
period during which the fishing was in full operation — beginning with 
the week ended 12th July, was If, 8J, 28, 36|, 96|, I8-I-, 23i, and 5| 
crans respectively, to 148 boats. The heaviest fishing was landed in the 
week ended 9th August, when the average was 96 J crans per boat, 
During that week there were many takes ranging from 90 to upwards of 
100 crans. The largest individual takes during the season were, two at 
Montrose, of 130 and 145 crans, and one at Arbroath of 121 crans. The 
most successful boat landed 415 crans during the season, and the least 
successful 36 crans. Owing to weight of fish upwards of 1000 nets were 
lost during the season, valued at fully £2000. 
The winter and spring herring fishing, especially in the Tay, was 
attended with much greater success than in the previous year ; the total 
catch being 2115 crans, or an increase of 1402 crans, when compared 
with that of 1889. The prices varied greatly, ranging from 5s. to 30s. 
per cran. The total catch of herrings for 1890 was 34,646 crans, com- 
pared with 38,165 crans for 1889. Fortunately there were no lives lost 
in connection with the fishing this season. 
Stonehaven District. 
From Bervie, exclusive, to Skateraw, inclusive. 
District Fishery Office — Stonehaven. 
In Stonehaven district the summer herring fishing was begun by a 
few boats early in July, but it did not become general until the week 
ended the 19th of that month. It closed on 30th August, after which 
date only 39 crans were landed in the district. The total catch amounted 
to 10,939 crans, or an average of 165 J crans for each of the 66 boats 
employed. This was a decrease of 1654 crans on the total, and of 19^ 
crans on the average, catch as compared with the previous year. July 
yielded 4332 crans, August 6668 crans, and September 39 crans. The 
fishing ,was very irregular throughout the season, it being a common 
