Fishery Board for Scotland. 



XXVll 



The bye-law was passed, not because the Board felt satisfied that 

 trawling was injuring any kind of sea fishing (in the absence of 

 reliable statistics it was impossible to arrive at any conclusion 

 on this question), but ratlier because, as recorded in their minutes, 

 it is ' desirable to make experiments or observations with the view 

 ' of ascertaining whether beam trawling is an injurious mode of fish- 

 ' iiig/ 



A reference to the map will show that the three areas which are Keasons for 

 to be closed differ considerably from each other ; and the Board ^^SeT""' 

 feel satisfied that, in order to make their observations of any real 

 value, experiments must be carried on in three such areas. The 

 Firth of Forth is practically an inland sea ; St Andrews Bay is in 

 free communication with the North Sea ; and this is still more the 

 case with Aberdeen Bay. Unless the Firth of Forth is closed as 

 far east as the line fixed in the bye-law, the number of fish in the 

 inner waters of the Firth would not have a chance of increasing. 

 Nearly the whole of St Andrews Bay has been closed, and only the 

 inner part of the Aberdeen Bay, in order that a comparison raay 

 be made between the protected and unprotected parts of Aberdeen 

 Bay and the corresponding parts of St Andrews Bay. 



From the Eeport of the Trawling Commission and other sources, 

 the Board are satisfied that for some time past comparatively little 

 trawling has been carried on in the Firth of Forth. This being the 

 case, the fish supply will not be materially diminished by these 

 waters being closed to trawlers. 



After the bye-law was made, the Board gave notice, in terms of the Parties make 

 statute, that they intended to apply to the Secretary for Scotland for ^^^^^^2^^^°^^ 

 its confirmation. Thereafter, a number of persons made repre- terest. 

 sentations to the Board for their interests as affected by it. 

 The Greneral Steam Fishing Company (Limited), Granton, objected 

 to its being confirmed ; a number of the fishermen on the East 

 Coast wished it confirmed as it stood ; others of them desired that 

 the limits of the waters to be closed should be extended ; while 

 others made representations as to their respective interests. The 

 whole of these communications were forwarded to Mr Trevelyan, 

 who was then Secretary for Scotland, and intimation was afterwards 

 given to the persons that your Lordship, who had succeeded Mr 

 Trevelyan, would hear them on the subject at the Scottish Office, 

 Whitehall, on 5th April last. At this meeting there were with Meeting with 

 your Lordship the Lord Advocate, Mr Marjoribanks, M.P., who |^^tian7at°'' 

 was a member of the Trawling Commission, and Sir Francis Sand- which they aie 

 ford. Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Department. There 

 were also present Mr Asher, M.P., Solicitor-General for Scotland ; 

 Sir Eobert Anstruther, M.P.; Mr Preston Bruce, M.P.; Mr Barclay, 

 M.P.; Mr Jacks, M.P.- Sir G. Campbell, M.P.; Mr Hunter, M.R; 

 Mr Finlay, M.P.; Mr Esslemont, M.P.; Mr Stephen Mason, M.P.; 

 Dr R. Macdonald, M.P.; Mr M'Donald Cameron, M.P.; and Mr 

 Haldane, M.P. The Geaeral Steam Fishing Company (Limited), 

 Granton, was represented by Mr Adam Darling, director, Mr James 

 Scott, manager, and Mr James M'Caul, secretary; and the line fish- 

 ing industry by a large number of fishermen from all parts of the 

 East Coast of Scotland. The Newhaven fishermen were represented 



