of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xv 



questions affecting fish distribution, the Board being represented by 

 their Secretary. 



7. Admiralty Reconstruction Committee, to which the Board 

 nominated their Secretary, appointed in September 1918, to consider 

 naval questions bearing upon the fishing industry. 



The foregoing does not pretend to be an exhaustive account of the 

 Board's activities during the war, and numerous other matters which 

 arose have not been touched upon. Nor can a brief survey such 

 as has been attempted convey anything like an adequate idea of 

 the large amount of additional work thrown upon the staff — depleted 

 as it was by enlistments and other causes — and it may therefore be 

 permissible to recount in somewhat greater detail a few of the matters 

 which bulked most largely in the special war work. 



I. Admikalty Orders for Fishing Vessels. — Although the 

 chart issued by- the Naval Authorities to indicate the prohibited 

 areas showed little alteration in the waters off the coast of Scotland 

 from its first issue in December 1914 until towards the close of the 

 war, the local regulations affecting those waters have been materially 

 modified from time to time. On the north-west coast, for example, 

 fishing was originally restricted to local vessels, but successive relaxa- 

 tions of the restrictions were made — the final result of which is shown 

 in the very successful fishings of the past two years in that locality. 

 On the other portions of the coast included in prohibited areas the 

 experience was similar, though in some of these areas the tide of 

 concession ebbed as well as flowed. 



Apart from the correspondence and other work involved in those 

 matters — in considering and making representations and advising 

 the Authorities as to the necessity, desirability, and effect of suggested 

 restrictions or relaxation of restrictions — each amendment of any 

 importance involved the preparation of fresh orders and their com- 

 munication to the fishermen and others concerned. The number of 

 orders, or amendments of orders, published by the Board up to the 

 close of 1918 was 186, exclusive of minor amendments indicated only 

 on the permits issued to the fishermen. 



The most prolific source of clerical work in connection with the 

 Admiralty Orders was, however, the permit system. With certain 

 limited exceptions fishing from Scottish ports could be prosecuted 

 only by vessels holding permits issued by the Board, and counter- 

 signed by the appropriate Naval Authority, and the total number of 

 applications received and dealt with reached the figure of 17,918, 

 exclusive of applications made through the Board for permits issued 

 by the Fishery Authorities of other portions of the Kingdom. The 

 applications were made through the local Fishery Officers, who signified 

 approval — or otherwise — and forwarded them to the Head Office 

 where they were considered ; if found in order, the necessary permit 

 was prepared and transmitted, with relative lists, to the appro- 

 priate Naval Authority for countersignature. After countersignature 

 they were returned to the Head Office or forwarded to the local 

 officer for issue to the fishermen. Intimation of the issue was then 

 made to the district officer or the Head Office, as the case required, 

 and particulars of permits issued, surrendered, or cancelled had also 

 to be furnished to the Admiralty and to certain naval and police 

 authorities. 



