of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



39 



3. Ornithology. 



Meetings of the Ornithological Advisory Committee for Scotland, 

 appointed by the Secretary for Scotland in accordance with the 

 recommendation of the Keport of the Departmental Committee on 

 the Protection of Wild Birds, were attended by a representative of 

 the Board. The position as regards birds considered to be harmful 

 to the sea and freshwater fisheries is being kept under observation, 

 in view of the possibility of the introduction of further legislation 

 on the subject. 



4. Telegraph and Telephone Services in the Highlands 



and Islands. 



The question of the retention of certain telegraph and telephone 

 lines erected during the war for naval and military purposes in the 

 Highlands and Islands continued to receive attention throughout 

 the year. Various conferences of the Government Departments 

 concerned were held and were attended by a representative of the 

 Board. 



Interruptions in the telegraph services to the Outer Islands 

 caused considerable inconvenience during the year, but it is satis- 

 factory to note that provision has been made for the use of wireless 

 communication with the Islands when the necessity arises. 



5. The Coal Stoppage and the Fishing Industry. 



On the 1st April 1921 a general stoppage of work at the coal 

 mines commenced throughout the country. Profiting by the ex- 

 perience of the previous year, the Shipping Sub-Committee in London 

 appointed by the Coal Mines Department, on which the Board 

 were again represented, at once took in hand the regulation of 

 bunker supplies to the various fishing fleets around the coasts. 

 Both herring fishing and trawling were affected on this occasion, and 

 the claims of the industry as an essential food-producing one re- 

 ceived every consideration. 



The Sub-Committee, after considering the coal requirements of 

 the fishing fleets and the coal stocks available at the various ports 

 and throughout the country, decided that the supply to fishing vessels 

 should not exceed 50 per cent, of their normal consumption. Local 

 Committees were again set up at the fishing ports in order to regulate 

 the bunker supplies in accordance with the Shipping Sub-Committee's 

 instructions. The local Fishery officers, as before, represented the 

 Board on these Committees. 



On the 13th April 1921, in view of the increasing gravity of the 

 situation and following a warning issued by the Sub-Committee, the 

 supply of bunker coal to fishing vessels was further limited to an 

 amount representing altogether 25 per cent, of their normal require- 

 ments, and this allowance remained in force until the 2nd July 1921, 

 when normal conditions were resumed. 



In spite of all obstacles, however, fishing was energetically pursued 

 around the Scottish coasts on the modified scale rendered necessary 

 by the rationing order, and a good supply of fresh fish at reasonable 

 prices was maintained throughout the country. It is interesting to 



