Fishery Board for Scotland. 



Ixvii 



more effectually carry out the duties with which she is charged. Vessels 

 The vessels employed by the Admiral Superintendent in the above ^tectinVi 

 work during the year 1886, in addition to H.M.S. ' Jackal,' Lieut. Fisheries 

 J. W. Osborne in command, and the 'Vigilant' cruiser, Mr Alex. 

 M'Donald in command, both of which are permanently in the 

 service of the Board, were the tenders from the guard ship atLeith, 

 viz., H.M. gunboat, 'Firm,' Lieut. J. W. Brant iu command, and 

 H.M. cutters 'Eagle' and ' Active,' Mr Henry Miller and Mr William 

 Sherlock in command. These vessels were engaged during the great 

 summer herring fishery on the East Coast and in the Shetland and 

 Orkney Islands, and their services were much appreciated by those 

 engaged in the fisheries. 



The ' Jackal ' was employed during the year in superintending the Services of 

 herring fishery in Loch Fyne, at Ballantrae on the Ayrshire coast, <Jacka1 -' 

 and at Barra in the Hebrides. She was also engaged at the 

 summer herring fishery on the East Coast, where she was stationed 

 at Wick, and had charge of that part of the coast from Duncansbay 

 Head on the north to Troup Head on the south, including both sides 

 of the Moray Firth. Her services at all these places were performed 

 under Lieut. Osborne, with great assiduity and watchfulness. 

 Upon her return to the West Coast, she was employed, along with 

 her tender ' Daisy,' in putting a stop to herring fishing on Sunday at 

 Kilbrannan Sound, and in the upper parts of Loch Fyne, regarding 

 which complaints had been made to the Board.* By the exertions 

 of the commander, a check was put to this illegal practice, to the 

 satisfaction of the general body of the fishermen, who tendered their 

 thanks to the Board for the prompt action taken in the matter. 

 While engaged on fishery duty, the ' Jackal ' was, by orders of the 

 Admiral Superintendent, detached for a short time to convey the 

 Examiner of Registers of Births and Deaths to Fair Isle and Foula 

 Island, and also to carry out special duties of the Admiralty at 

 Portree in Skye. During her absence the superintendence in Loch 

 Fyne was carried on in an efficient manner by Mr Boughton in 

 command of the tender ' Daisy,' who was also usefully employed in 

 investigating complaints against beam trawlers in Luce Bay and at 

 Ballantrae of damaging the nets and lines of fishermen. 



The 'Vigilant' cruiser was engaged during the year in super- Services of 

 intending the fisheries in the Firths of Forth, Tay, and Beauly ; at ' Vigilant.' 

 Stornoway in the Lewis, and at the summer herring fishery on the 

 East Coast. She was stationed at Aberdeen, and had charge of the 

 coast from Troup Head on the north to Red Head on the south. 

 In the performance of the duty assigned to the commander for the 

 protection of all engaged in the fisheries, he showed great zeal and 

 energy in keeping order among the fishermen ; in enforcng the 

 regulations regarding the lettering and numbering of boats ; 

 investigating complaints from fishermen, and settling disputes which 

 arose among them * and in protecting the waters closed by the 

 bye-law made by the Board against beam trawling. In connection 

 with these duties, the commander examined 2000 certificates of 

 registers. He also detained 578 fishing boats and 18 trawl vessels 

 for non-compliance with the regulations, and he warned 450 boats • 

 to carry lights. 



In the last Report of the Board, special attention was called to 



