of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



13 



Highlands and Islands have long occasioned anxiety to the 

 Government and Departments concerned. The various schemes 

 which have been tried have not yet wholly solved the difficulties, 

 and any practical proposal for adding to the local industries must 

 act beneficially, and 



(2) Local effort will be stimulated by the additional outlet for 

 the disposal of the fish landed during that period of the year when 

 stranger fishermen and curers are absent. 



In this connection it is highly important that there should be 

 no hiatus between the release from the Services of the young men hail- 

 ing from the West Coast and the creation of new openings for energy 

 and perseverance, such as will be provided by the prospect of constant 

 and regular employment. 



(vi) Formation of an Auxiliary Patrol Service. 



Some years prior to the outbreak of war large numbers of Scottish 

 fishermen were members of the Koyal Naval Reserve, and they went 

 through a course of training annually at certain Scottish shore stations. 

 Latterly, however, this system of training had been abolished, and it 

 was made compulsory for the men to train on board naval vessel j 

 operating at considerable distances from their homes, with the result 

 that the service became unpopular, and the strength declined. 



An opportunity has now arisen for reviving the interest of our 

 fishermen in naval matters, as a large body of them will return home on 

 demobilisation with a respect for discipline and full of enthusiasm for 

 the service. 



The pre-war nucleus of the auxiliary patrol consisted of a Trawler 

 Reserve formed within a comparatively short period before the out- 

 break of war. This was greatly extended thereafter, until it has now 

 attained large dimensions. 



As regards the immediate future, it is probable that fishermen 

 will be quite prepared to undergo a short annual course of training 

 for service if the men are taken up in rotation, so as to avoid having 

 their boats laid up. 



Thereafter special arrangements may require to be made to attract 

 the rising generations to the Reserve, and it would be advantageous 

 if the scheme adopted provided for the establishment of schools at 

 a number of the important fishing centres where the education begun 

 at the elementary schools could be carried to a higher stage and 

 training given in navigation, cookery, engineering (steam and motor), 

 signalling, and the different duties of the Auxiliary Patrol. 



(vii) Fishery Harbour Administration. 



The fishery harbours of Scotland form a national asset of the 

 first importance, and on their proper development and management 

 largely depends the prosperity of the fisheries themselves. Without 

 good fishery harbours for the safe accommodation and shelter of 

 fishing vessels, and convenient harbours of refuge to which they can 

 run with safety during storms, the confidence of the fisherman in his 

 precarious calling can never be properly assured. 



(a) Development of Fishery Harbours. — In recent years the 



