of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xix 



Department all claims for compensation lodged by Scottish fishermen 

 are referred to the Board and a recommendation in each case is made 

 by them after investigation by their local Officer. Grants made in 

 respect of such claims are transmitted through the Board, who under- 

 take the responsibihty of ensuring, again through their local Officers, 

 that the amount granted is expended on the purpose for which it is 

 given (usually in the purchase of fishing gear). A large number of the 

 fishermen who had been on service found that their fishing gear had 

 seriously deteriorated in their absence, and while to many this did not 

 involve serious financial hardship, others were quite unable without 

 assistance to resume fishing on a proper scale. The Board were glad 

 to be able to provide the services of a staff intimately acquainted with 

 local conditions and with the fishing industry to undertake this duty. 

 Between 700 and 800 appHcations had been referred to the Board 

 up to the end of 1919. 



Revision of Branding Regulations. 



Owing to the circumstances arising from the war the Board's 

 system of inspecting and branding cured herrings had been practically 

 in abeyance since 1914, but in anticipation of the needs of last season 

 the Regulations on the subject were revised before the commence- 

 ment of the summer fishing. The Regulations in their general form 

 have proved during a long series of years well adapted for the end in 

 view, and only slight adjustments were again made. Herrings for the 

 " La Full," " Full," and " Mat. Full " Brands were no longer required 

 to be " full of milt or roe," but instead had to be " well-developed fish 

 . . . whether full of milt or roe or not," although " half -run " herrings 

 were specifically excluded. The "Filhng " Brand, being covered by 

 this definition, was discontinued. The restrictions as to the period of 

 the year during which herrings must be cured to be eligible for the 

 various brands were withdrawn, the question of suitability or other- 

 wise being now left entirely to the discretion of the branding officers. 

 In addition the period of pining between curing and final filhng up was 

 reduced, while a slight increase was made in the minimum size of 

 herring ^Hbible for the " Mat. Full " Brand. 



Committees Dealing with Fisheey Matters. 



As representing Scottish fishery interests the Secretary of the 

 Board continued to act during 1919 on the Scottish Sea Fisheries 

 Committee, the Food Investigation Board, and the Admiralty Re- 

 construction Committee, to which reference was made in our last 

 Report, and in addition was appointed during the year a member of 

 the Rural Transport (Scotland) Committee. 



Prosecutions for Illegal Trawling. 



During the year 1919 the number of prosecutions for illegal 

 trawling round the Scottish coasts was 16, from which 15 convictions 

 resulted. 



The Board's cruisers which were demobihsed from Admiralty 

 Service at the beginning of the year and after reconditioning resumed 



