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Thirtieth Annual Report 



ENQUIRIES INTO COMPLAINTS OF DAMAGE TO 

 BOATS OR GEAR. 



In Appendix K, No. T, are given details of the action taken by the 

 Hoard's Officers under the powers conferred by the Sea Fisheries 

 (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1885, and the result so far as reported 



in each case. 



Altogether 41 complaints were investigated of damage alleged to have 

 been sustained by fishing boats or their gear, an increase of only five 

 on the total of the previous year. It is satisfactory to note that, on 

 the whole, the number of such cases has been declining in recent 

 years, the figures for 1908-11 being 57, 46, 36, and 41 respectively. 



Twenty five of the complaints were against trawlers. In three of 

 these cases foreign trawlers were involved, but in two of the instances 

 the evidence was insufficient to prove that the damage was done by 

 the vessel complained of, and in the other case the claim of £20 was 

 compromised by the payment of £8. The two most serious complaints 

 against British trawlers were also compromised, £70 being accepted 

 in one case and £37 in the other, in settlement of claims of £85 and 

 £73 8s. 6d. respectively. Five cases, involving £80 12s., were 

 dropped, two small claims remained unsettled, while other three 

 were likely to go to law. Excluding those mentioned in the last 

 sentence, altogether £145 13s. lid. was paid in respect of damage 

 assessed at £212 8s. 5d. 



As regards the 16 charges against drifters or liners, the respondents 

 in seven cases were found not at fault, two cases (involving £23 9s.) 

 were left unsettled, and the remaining claims, amounting to £149 9s., 

 were disposed of by payment of £42 10s. 



PROSECUTIONS FOR ILLEGAL TRAWLING. 



During the last three years the number of cases of illegal trawling 

 has fluctuated considerably, having been 63 in 1909, 31 in 1910, and 

 53 in the year now under review. Details will be found in Appendix 

 K, No. Ii. No single or definite cause can apparently be assigned 

 for these variations, the inducement to encroach on the closed waters 

 being dependent partly on the demand for fish, especially at certain 

 seasons of the year, partly on the tenptation to exploit the known 

 plentifulness of fish in specific areas, and partly on a consideration of 

 the disposition of the fishery cruisers at particular times. 



From the information at the Board's disposal, however, they are 

 able to assure the public that the chief offenders have met with 

 salutary penalties, as, for example, in the instances where two groups 

 of trawlers on separate occasions were detected within the limits off 

 Gloup Holm and off Balta Island, Shetland, respectively, and in the 

 detections made in the Moray Firth in the months of March, April, 

 and May. 



The increase of 22 in the number ol cases coming into Court 

 in 1 911, as compared with the number in 1910, is largely referable 

 to the areas mentioned, viz., Shetland and the Moray Firth. 

 Indeed, the figures, apart from the absolute difference in the total, 

 indicate a considerable contrast to those of the previous year — a 

 difference that can be attributed only to the mixed causes suggested 

 above. Reference has already been made to the increased number of 



