of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xi 



War Work of Board. 



During the year under review the duties devolving on the Board 

 in connection with the war, which were already heavy, still further 

 increased. It is not possible to indicate these in detail, but some of 

 the war functions have been mentioned above, and general reference 

 may also be made to (1) the Admiralty Orders regulating fishing 

 operations; (2) the scheme under which the Board are consulted 

 regarding the calling up for Naval service of fishermen enrolled in 

 Section Y of the Koyal Naval Volunteer Eeserve in order to ensure 

 that the requirements of the- Admiralty are met with the least 

 detriment to the fisheries ; (3) the release from the Army and Navy 

 of shore-workers required in connection with the industry, and the 

 continuance of exemption for men essential in the interests of the 

 national food supply; (4) the obtaining of priority certificates for 

 supplying motor engines for fishing vessels ; and (5) the great 

 difficulties in obtaining supplies of various materials required in 

 connection with the industry and the increasing extent to which 

 such materials are controlled by different Government Departments. 



Another important subject which has received, and continues to 

 receive, the Board's most careful consideration is the re-establishment 

 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, one member of 

 the clerical staff has been lent to the Munitions Department, and 

 one of the outdoor staff to the Ministry of Food. 



We regret to announce that Lance-Corpl. George W. Craig, 

 Gordon Highlanders, formerly Assistant Fishery Officer at Wick, 

 who, as stated in our last Keport, was reported missing in July 1916, 

 has since been posted as killed, and that Sergeant John Mowat, 

 Gordon Highlanders, Fishery Officer of Helmsdale District, was 

 killed in action on 23rd April 1917. Both were most promising 

 officers, and their loss is deplored. 



PART II. 



SALMON FISHERIES. 



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

 steamship in Scotland in 1917 was 1731 tons, 11 cwts. This is greater, 

 by 458 tons, than the weight carried in the previous year, but falls 

 below the last quinquennial average by 325 tons. It may be 

 recollected that the figure given in last year's report was the lowest 

 ever reached in the history of Scottish Salmon Fisheries. A rise of 

 458 tons on the 1916 figure does not therefore represent a condition 



