24 Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



estuarine waters where quantities of them are taken in the form of 

 white bait. 



(d) Grants to Institutions. — Grants to certain local institutions 

 should be continued and the system extended to some other institu- 

 tions which have not hitherto received a grant. Local investigations, 

 for instance in connection with shell-fish, can be most usefully con- 

 ducted by such institutions where they exist, and efficiency and 

 economy may be promoted by committing certain items of research 

 requiring on the part of the workers very high qualifications of 

 specialised knowledge and requiring no special acquaintance with the 

 context of the research, either to a central staff placed for admini- 

 strative purposes under the control of one of tjie Departments, or to 

 such institutions as may be willing and qualified for the several pur- 

 poses contemplated. 



The investigations now advocated are on lines generally similar 

 to those which have been in operation in Scotland for a long period 

 of years, but the Board have been hampered in their efforts to solve 

 the problems which have confronted them by the lack of adequate 

 funds. From their experience it is clear that the proposals now made 

 would result in greater opportunities of development and conservation 

 of the industry by enabling the Board (1) to extend the scope of their 

 operations to the whole of the waters under their jurisdiction, and 

 especially to the waters on the West Coast — which have hitherto been 

 practically neglected in so far as scientific research is concerned, and 

 (2) to engage a larger and more experienced staff of investigators capable 

 of dealing with the various important matters coming under their 

 cognizance. 



IV. CONCLUSION. 



The definite proposals put forward may be classified as follows : — 



I. Those which call for legislation and improved organisation, and 

 II. Those which require also State aid for their accomplishment. 

 I. (1) Increased facilities for distribution and proper storage to be 

 provided by railway and steamship companies, local authori- 

 ties, and private enterprise : revision of railway rates. 



(2) State assistance in re-opening and expanding the outlets for 



cured fish, and in keeping the trade in touch with the latest 

 developments in foreign markets. 



(3) Institution of an inquiry to ascertain best method of securing 



recruits for the trawling industry. 



(4) State influence to secure reduction or removal of tariffs on 



cured fish exported. 



(5) Introduction of legislation to secure centralised and improved 



administration of fishery harbours. 



(6) Kevision of legislation affecting the policing of the fisheries. 

 IT. (1) Government grant for provision and repair of fishery harbours 



and patent slips, and annual provision for the purpose of 

 making loans to harbour authorities. 



(2) State aid in providing motor engines for fishing boats on the 



West Coast and Outer Isles. 



(3) State grants for erection of landing piers on the West Coast, 



and for providing motor carriers to convey catches to 

 railheads. 



