xxii 
Ninth Animal Report of the 
the quautity of horriiigs repaclced. To this Table is appended a 
supplementary note, showing the ports or places to which the 
herrings exported to the Continent were shipped, and the total 
quantity exported to the Continent. 
Hen'ing.s 
No. VI. Appendix A, gives an abstract of the total quantity of 
S'^lx^Self ' w^^'te herrings cured, branded, and exported, year by year, in so 
1875 to 1890.' far as Irought under the cognizance of the fishery officers from 1st 
January 1875 to 3Lst December 1890, distingui3hing the export 
to Ireland, to the Continent, and to places out of Europe. 
WINTER HERRING FISHERY. 
Winter herring The Scottish winter herring fishing of 1890 yielded 98,700 crans, 
fishery. compared with 75,407 crans in 1889, being an increase of 23,293 
crans, or 30*88 par cent. To this total the East Coast contributed 
27,186 crans, Orkney and Shetland 552 crans, and the West Coast 
Districts where 70,962 crans. Winter herrings were landed in more or less 
prosecuted. quantities at every district in Scotland, except Eyemouth. Those 
districts which yielded the best returns on the East Coast were 
Wick, Anstruther, and Leith ; and on the West Coast, Loch Carron 
and Skye, Ballantrae, Campbeltown, Stornoway, and Inveraray. 
The greatest quantities were landed during the months of January, 
February, November, and December. The ground usually fished 
Quality and Idy near the shore. La.^t year a great number of large herrings 
prices of ^^j.^ caugbt, bjt their flavour, as usual, was not so "^od as that 
° * of the summer and autumn herrings. Prices ranged from 5s. to 
How disposed 603. a cran, the average being 13s. lOd. The greater portion of the 
winter herrings of 1890 was used in this country, either in a fresh 
state, lightly salted, or as kippers, and bloaters, — comparatively few 
being cured for exportation. There were 799 J barrels branded crown 
'Full,' of which 614J were cured at Stornoway, and 185 at Wick. 
New brand la order to distinguish herrings caught in winter when branded 
herrTn^s!^ from those caught in summer and autumn, the Board have 
furnished their officers with a new brand bearing the word 
ttonVf^branr ' placed over the ordinary crown brand. The 
lono ran . ]3pj^m^[Qg herrings landed in winter was first introduced at 
Wick in February 1864, and being a new departure, the former 
Fishery Board, in order to remove all doubt as to the practic- 
ability of properly curing them, directed that a test be made. 
Two barrels were accordingly purchased at Wick, two at 
Lybster, and three at Helmsdale, consisting of crown ' Full/ ami 
crown 'Maties.' These seven barrels, having been marked and 
sealed, were forwarded to Leith, where they lay for ten months, 
and were then examined in the presence of the Board's principal 
officers. The herrings were found in excellent condition, and in 
every respect entitled to the crown brand ; and when olfered for 
sale at Leith realised about one-third more than the original cost. 
Comparatively few of the winter-cured herrings have, however, 
been branded since the above date, as they are not so much prized 
in the Continental markets on account of their dryness and their 
not possessing the rich flavour of the summer and autumn 
herrings. 
