of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xix 



was arranged that the Board should prepare estimates of the quantity 

 of paraffin required by the Scottish fishing fleet, and with the co- 

 operation of the Scottish Companies adequate arrangements for 

 supplies were made, any temporary shortage being due to transport 

 difficulties. This arrangement worked well, and no interruption of 

 fishing operations by reason of lack of oil fuel was experienced. 



VII. Fish Distribution. — When in the early part of 1918 the 

 fixing of maximum prices for fish interfered with the free play of 

 competition, it became necessary to organise a rationing scheme in 

 order to secure the equitable division of the available supply among 

 the various branches of the Trade, and to arrange for its distribution 

 throughout the country to the greatest advantage. 



To accomplish this the Fish Distribution Order, 1918, was pro- 

 mulgated by the Ministry of Food, and it became necessary to arrange 

 some organisation whereby effect might be given to its provisions. In 

 England the necessary machinery had to be improvised, but in Scotland 

 the Food Minister found in the Board's outdoor staff an organised and 

 competent executive ready to his hand. 



It was accordingly arranged that the Fishery Officers should act 

 as the executive officers in Scotland. The arrangement has worked 

 well, and no difficulty has been experienced in carrying out the pro- 

 visions of the Order. 



Among the duties performed by the Officers the following may be 

 mentioned : — 



1. Seeing that maximum prices are not exceeded by any Section 

 of the Trade. 



2. Assisting the Trade in difficulties, such as shortage of packages, 

 ice, etc., or shortage of labour. 



3. Advising on applications for certificates of registration as re- 

 tailers. 



4. Issuing permits for fish supplies to wholesalers. 



5. Arranging, when necessary, for the diversion of supplies. 



6. Assisting in rationing supplies to dealers. 



7. Arranging transport on the occurrence of gluts. 



All of this work threw a very heavy burden on the Board's depleted 

 permanent staff, and on those temporarily engaged, and we cannot 

 let this opportunity pass of again expressing our appreciation of the 

 loyal, efficient, and ungruding way in which the work was performed. 



Members of the Staff Serving with the Forces. 



In addition to the staff of the Board's cruisers and research vessel, 

 numbering 107, all of whom were in Admiralty service throughout 

 the war, 22 members of the clerical, outdoor, and scientific staff 

 enlisted in the Army or Navy, out of a total male staff of 62, of 

 whom 33 were above 41 years of age, while one member of the 

 clerical staff was lent to the Munitions Department, and one of the 

 outdoor staff to the Ministry of Food. At the date of the Armistice 

 the Board had only 7 men under 41 in their service, none of whom 

 was under 36, and only one of whom was in Class A. 



We regret to announce that Privates E. T. Downing, Scottish 

 Bines, Wm. Thomson, Royal Scots, and J. M. Wilkie, Argyll and 



