Fishery Board for Scotland, 
xiii 
increase being shown in Stornoway district, where 127,320 crans increase of 
were landed, against 69,480 crans in the preceding year. With the w^st Coast 
exception of Stornoway district, the West Coast herring fishing is compared with 
generally carried on in the sea lochs and narrow waters, and there- 
fore smaller boats are en ployed. Stornoway is the most important stornoway 
of all the districts, and has a fleet of the largest and best-equipped ^^^^""s- 
boats, which prosecute the fisliing usually between Lewis and 
Cape Wrath in the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes forty miles 
north of the Butt of Lewi3. The returns for last year were very 
satisfactory, showing an increase over the preceding year in the 
quantity landed of 57,840 crans, or 83-24 per cent. Inveraray, 
Campbeltown, and Loch Carron districts yielded fair average 
quantities of superior herrings, similar to those usually got in 
these districts. Of the 283,093J crans landed upon the West 
Coast last year, only about 135,131 crans were cured. The 
remainder — more than one-half of the entire catch — was forwarded Takes largely 
to market for consumption either fresh or slightly salted. Tj^g "sed fresh. 
West Coast loch herrings are much esteemed for their rich Rich flavour, 
flavour at certain seasons of the year, especially those taken in 
Loch Fyne and Kilbrennan Sound ; but no herrings can com- 
pare with those caught on the banks on the Atlantic side of 
Barra. 
The winter herring Ashing was also successfully prosecuted last Winter herrmg 
year. Its gross produce amounted to 98,700 crans, being an in- ^^^^^^g- 
crease of 23,293 crans on the preceding year, the East Coast 
contributing 27,738 crans, and the West Coast 70,962 crans. With 
the exception of Eyemouth, every district in Scotland contributed 
to the total quantity landed. 
The aggregate quantity of herrings landed in 1890 on both the Aggregate 
East and West Coasts was 1,137,2461 crans, which realised ^^fJ^^^^^Y """'^ 
£827,072 to the fishermen. Of this quantity, 1,304,603 barrels herrings lauded 
were cured, and 231,674 crans sent to the home markets fresh or 
slightly salted, a considerable portion of which was afterwards 
made into kippers and bloaters. 
The gross quantity of barrels of herrings branded during the Quantity of 
year was 376,280, being a decrease from the preceding year 
of 79,0051 barrels. The brand fee of 4d. per barrel realised Amount of 
£6271, 6s. 8d., a decrease of £1316, 15s. 2d., as compared with 1889. brand fees. 
This decrease was owing to the determination of many fish-curers 
at first not to brand, and a little misunderstanding about the new 
regulations, which were, before trial, pronounced by some to be too 
elaborate and even unworkable, but aftj?r being tried and tested by 
the fish-curing trade, were highly commended and generally ap- 
proved, both by the home and the foreign trades. The only failure 
this season was in too light salting, especially in some full crown 
brands. Particulars of the brands will be found at p. xx of this Particulars 
Eeport under " Branding of Herrings." bmnds"^^^ 
The total quantity of herrings exported was 985,670 J barrels, Cured herrings 
941,254 barrels of which were sent to Germany and other places exported, 
on the Continent, 29,639^ barrels to Ireland, and 14,777 barrels to 
places out of Europe, — the largest portion of which went to 
America, mostly repacked in small casks or kegs, and shipped 
from Greenock, Leith, and Aberdeen. 
