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Appendices to Thirty-seventh Annual Report 



Policing of Districts. 



During the war, this duty has been largely impaired by the calling - 

 up of water bailiffs for military service. No doubt the necessity of close 

 supervision has been less obvious, since those in the various districts who 

 were likely to commit offences under the Salmon Acts were also away 

 serving their country. But since demobilisation has commenced, it 

 appears that a very serious outbreak of poaching has occurred in one or 

 two places. This applies not only to ruthless methods of capturing fish 

 on their way to the spawning beds in the autumn, but to operations by 

 means of nets in the sea and at the mouths of rivers. 



For the recruiting of efficient water bailiffs it is possible that District 

 Fishery Boards may find excellent material in the persons of ex-N.C.O.'s 

 and other ranks of the regular army, in cases where former men are no 

 longer available. It is important, apparently, that this matter of suitable 

 policing be attended to. If unlawful practices are joined in by consider- 

 able companies of poachers it may presently happen that an ordinary 

 number of water bailiffs is quite insufficient to deal with the situation. 



I have the honour to be, G-entleinen, 



Your obedient Servant, 



W. L. Calderwood. 



