xviii 



Thirty -seventh Annual Report 



Class A might be granted by the Board of Trade, and that Depart- 

 ment was induced to agree that applications for motors, or for the 

 construction or repair of fishing vessels generally, should be made 

 through the Board. 



Eventually the granting of certificates for engines was placed 

 entirely in the hands of the Ministry of Munitions, and at the request 

 of that Department programmes of the requirements of the Scottish 

 fishing industry in respect of motors were prepared, to which priority 

 4 was granted. The settlement of priority in the general repair of 

 vessels remained for a time in the hands of the Board of Trade, but 

 was ultimately taken over by the Director of Shipping Eepairs. 



The total number of cases of applications for certificates for 

 engines dealt with was 994, and in addition a large number of 

 applications in respect of general repair work also passed through 

 the hands of the Board. 



IV. — Fishing Vessels on Admiralty Service. — The Board were 

 frequently consulted by the Admiralty in regard to the chartering 

 of steam drifters and other fishing vessels. Apart from general 

 correspondence on the subject, the revision of the terms for the hire 

 of steam drifters involved the issue of circulars to the owners of 

 upwards of 800 vessels, and the receipt and notation of the owners' 

 replies, with further correspondence in many of the cases. Particulars 

 of the vessels remaining at the fishing were from time to time 

 furnished to the Naval Authorities, and this was later on extended 

 to motor drifters, a number of which were also chartered. 



In addition to the services rendered to the central authorities 

 in this matter, assistance was on several occasions given to local 

 authorities in regard to obtaining vessels and men for special purposes. 



V. Licences to Export Fish. — Following upon the placing of 

 fish upon the list of articles prohibited to be exported, an agree- 

 ment was reached with the Board of Trade and the War Trade Depart- 

 ment, after considerable negotiation, by which applications for 

 licences to export fish from Scotland were referred to the Board for 

 consideration. The total number of applications dealt with was 

 315, and with the exception of a small number in which special 

 inquiry proved necessary, all were disposed of on the day of receipt. 



VI. Oil Fuel for Motor Boats. — When restrictions on the 

 quantity of petrol issued to consumers were imposed fishermen in 

 different parts of the country found that the quantities authorised 

 by the licences issued to them were insufficient for their purpose. 

 Representations on the subject were made to the Petrol Control 

 Committee, who agreed to grant applications for additional quantities 

 if recommended by the Board. Applications for renewal of licences 

 were also reviewed by the Board, and as the result of these arrange- 

 ments upwards of 1100 cases were dealt with. 



Petrol licences for vehicles used by the trade on shore were also 

 dealt with by the Board. 



Much difficulty was also experienced after a time by motor fish- 

 ing boats in obtaining sufficient and regular supplies of petroleum 

 or paraffin, and as the result of representations made by the Board to 

 the Ministry of Munitions on the subject, the Scottish Oil Companies 

 were instructed to provide the necessary supplies. Subsequently it 



