22 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Beport 
The total catch for the year amounted to 33,650 crans, which is the 
largest recorded for the last 6 years, and is an increase of 7401 crans, 
as against 1889. When compared with the average catch for the past 
20 years, it also shows an increase of about 7000 crans. The most 
successful months were July, August and December. The fishing was 
light and irregular in June. A large and dense shoal of herrings of good 
quality was discovered off Ardrishaig in the first week of July, and from 
that time till the close of October the industry was successfully prosecuted 
in Lower Loch Fyne. The best takes were landed along the shores of the 
east side of the loch between Ardlamont Point and Otter Spit. During 
the period when the shoal was in the loch, takes ranging from 50 to 80 
crans were landed nightly, and takes of 100 to 150 crans were frequent — one 
crew landing a single take of over 200 crans. In the last week of October 
a dense shoal of herrings again entered the loch, and during the remainder 
of the season large hauls were landed by both seine and drift-net boats. 
The fish, however, were very small, and of such little value that the 
fishermen refrained from taking too many of them, otherwise the total 
catch for the season would have been much greater. To seine-net fisher- 
men the season was fairly remunerative. The highest sums realized for 
single takes ranged from £60 to £160. Crews of 2 boats using seine- 
nets, and working together, earned sums ranging from £500 to £700 
during the season, while a few of the most successful crews got from 
£900 to £1100 ; others, however, only received from £200 to £300 for 
their aggregate catches. The earnings of the drift-net crews were very 
low — a few of the most successful only realizing sums ranging from £70 
to £80, as compared with £150 to £200 in 1889. The quality of the 
herrings taken up till the close of October was superior, and the size 
generally large. Those caught afterwards were small and inferior in 
quality. Prices generally ranged from 20s. to 30s. a cran, but the high 
rate of 70s. a cran was often obtained. Those caught in November and 
December sold at prices ranging from 2s. to 10s. a cran, — the total value 
of the catch being estimated at £43,746. The bulk of the season's catch 
was forwarded direct to Glasgow in steamers chartered by the Argyll 
and Bute Fishermen's Association, and sold for use fresh, or to be 
kippered, — only 1060 barrels being cured. 
EoTHESAY District. 
From Ardlamont Point, inclusive, to Roseneath Point, exclusive ; including 
the lochs within this range of coast ; also Bute and Arran. 
District Fishery Office — Rothesay. 
The herring fishing commenced on the 16th June, 2 weeks earlier 
than in the previous year, but did not become general till the 20th July, 
and practically closed in October. There are 232 boats belonging to the 
district, 168 of "which use nets and lines. The total amount of herrings 
landed was 9885 crans, a decrease of 1596 crans as compared with 
1889. These figures compare favourably, however, with the average of 
the past 10 years. As early as April, shoals of young herrings made 
their appearance in the bays and lochs of the district. The fishing in 
the lochs was almost a failure, particularly in Loch Long — the fishing 
grounds along the ]N"orth Coast of the Island of Arran, Skipness, and 
Ardlamont Point being the most productive. At the latter place, an 
immense shoal estimated at 3 miles long and over a mile broad was 
found, and in one week of the season as many as 302 boats were em- 
ployed, manned by over a thousand men and boys. The seine or circle- 
