I 



Thirty-second Annual Report 



CASUALTIES. 



In Appendix F. No. III. (p. 146), particulars are given of the 

 number of lives lost, and the pecuniary loss sustained through the 

 loss of, or damage to, boats and fishing gear in 1913. 



Thirty fatal accidents occurred during the year, being 1 less than in 

 the previous year. Twelve persons met their deaths through the 

 foundering of their boats, 8 fell overboard^ 6 were washed overboard, 

 and 4 were knocked overboard or killed by sails. 



A very gratifying feature of the return is that a decrease of 22 

 boats and £15,540 from the previous year falls to be recorded in the 

 number of boats totally destroyed and the value thereof, the totals for 

 1913 being 39 and £21,089 respectively. The number of boats damaged 

 (828) shows a decrease of 3, but unfortunately the amount of damage 

 increased from £27,647 in 1912 to £31,981 ; while the loss sustained 

 through the loss of, or damage to, fishing gear has increased from 

 £69,087 in 1912 to £73,942 in 1913, the greater portion of such increase 

 being applicable to the trawling fleet. The total pecuniary loss thus 

 amounted to £127,012 as compared with £133,363 in the previous 

 year ; but these figures do not include the losses sustained by the 

 Scottish fleet at the English and Irish fishings, which were, as usual, 

 considerable. 



COMPLAINTS OF DAMAGE TO SUBMARINE TELECKAPH 

 CABLES BY TRAWLERS. 



As a result of complaints that damage was being caused to tele- 

 graph cables by the fishing gear of trawlers, an Inter-departmental 

 Committee was appointed in July 1908 to inquire into the matter. 

 It was subsequently recommended that a systematic inspection of 

 trawl gear should be instituted as a method of protection against the 

 possibility of fm^ther damage to cables, and for this purpose Inspectors 

 were appointed by the Board and by the Fishery Departments in 

 England and Ireland. 



The Board undertook their share of the work by appointing as 

 Inspectors the fishery officers of Aberdeen, Leith, and Montrose — the 

 three ports in Scotland most frequented by trawlers. On every 

 occasion of their rounds of inspection the officers received every 

 assistance and courtesy from trawl owners, managers, superintendents, 

 and masters of vessels. The factories where trawd boards are manu- 

 factured were regularly visited, and the construction of the boards was 

 found to be in every respect satisfactory. 



Beyond minor defects, such as loose bolts, weak and worn iron 

 straps, and ragged edges, there were no complaints regarding the 

 condition of the boards examined, and such defects were always 

 remedied before the vessels proceeded to sea. 



The following return shows the number of trawlers inspected during 

 1913, distinguishing between (1) Scottish, (2) English, and (3) 

 Foreign : — 



