X 



Thirty-fifth Annual Report 



Another important subject which has received, and continues to 

 receive, the Board's most careful consideration is the reconstruction 

 of the industry after the war. 



All of this work has thrown a heavy burden on the Board's 

 greatly reduced permanent staff, and on those temporarily engaged. 

 We desire to put on record the loyal, efficient, and ungrudging way 

 in which the work has been performed. 



Members of Staff serving with the Forces. 



In addition to the staff of the Board's cruisers and research 

 vessel, numbering 107, all of whom are now in Admiralty service, 

 21 members of the clerical, outdoor and scientific staff have enlisted 

 in the Army or Navy, out of a total male staff of 62, while one 

 member of the clerical staff has been lent to the Munitions Depart- 

 ment. 



The Board regret to announce that two members of the staff fell 

 in action during the year. Lance-Corpl. George W. Craig, Gordon 

 Highlanders, formerly Assistant Fishery Officer at Wick, was re- 

 ported missing in July 1916, and Private Ernest T. Downing, 

 Scottish Eifles, a member of the Head Office Staff, was killed on 

 30th October 1916, both of whom were most promising and efficient 

 officials. 



PART U. 



SALMON FISHERIES. 



The total weight of salmon and sea trout carried by rail and 

 steamship in Scotland during 1916 was 1273 tons. This is 435 tons 

 less than in the previous year, and 783 tons less than the last 

 quinquennial average. The figure is the lowest ever reached in the 

 history of Scottish Salmon Fisheries. Both grilse and sea trout were 

 very scarce, and, although spring salmon did fairly well in many 

 localities, the summer and autumn stock fell away, so that all over 

 the country a decline was experienced. 



The whole coast line is divided as formerly into four districts, 

 and the curves drawn since the year 1894, and shown on the opposite 

 chart, sufficiently indicate the gradual nature of the decline. 



[Table. 



