Fishery Board for Scotland. 
xli 
other fishing boats to the boats, nets, lines, or gear of fishermen, and 
showing the results in each case. 
From this return it will seen that, although the complaints in- 
vestigated and reported on by the Board's fishery officers and com- 
manders of fishery cruisers, were not so numerous as in the 
preceding year — numbering only 79 as against 128 in 1888 — they 
were spread over as wide an area, and were of as varied a character. 
Twenty-five complaints against trawlers and 11 against fishing Damaging 
boats, for damaging lines of other fishing boats were investigated lines - 
and reported on, 20 being satisfactorily settled (based on the 
officers' reports), and 7 not proven, while in the remaining cases 
the defenders declined to accept the decision of the officers. Of 18 Damage to 
complaints against fishing boats for damage to nets, and 4 for the boats b and Shmg 
same offence against trawlers, 9 were satisfactorily settled, 2 are still trawlers, 
pending, 4 were allowed to drop, and the remainder not proven. 
One complaint was made against the owners of crab creels for 
damage to nets, and 4 against steamers for the same offence, 3 
being settled, and 2 departed from. There were 12 Cases of Collisions, 
collision and consequent damage to boats, 7 being satisfactorily 
settled, 3 allowed to drop, and 2 not proven. 
Fifty of the total number of complaints arose from damage sus- Damage sus- 
tained outside the territorial waters, while 29 occurred inside these £nd outside 6 
waters. Of these, the Board's fishery officers investigated 70, the the territorial 
commander of the 'Vigilant' cruiser 5, and the commander of waters - 
H.M.S. * Jackal ' 4. 
It is satisfactory to note that in only two cases was it necessary Results satis- 
to have recourse to legal proceedings, and that in both cases the factoi T- 
finding of the Sheriff virtually confirmed the decision given by the 
officer. A great deal of expense was thus saved to the fishermen 
through the instrumentality of the Board's officers. Damages, 
amounting to upwards of £350, were awarded by them — £257 being 
given against trawlers. 
The Board would here repeat the recommendation which they Fishermen 
made in the last Report, that any fisherman whose boats, nets, ^ma^houid 
lines, or fishing gear are damaged by any trawler or other fishing make^om ° U 
boat, should immediately make his complaint known to the fishery P^* s to 
officer of the district, or to any of the commanders of the superin- rs ' 
tending cruisers, who will, in terms of the Act of Parliament, 
inquire into the circumstances of the complaint, and furnish a 
report setting forth the particulars thereof, stating the amount of 
damage done, and who is in fault. In the event of both parties 
being satisfied with the report, the matter may be settled in terms 
thereof; but if an arrangement is not made, then the party who 
has sustained damage may take the case into court, and have the 
question tried and decided by the Sheriff, the officer's report being 
part of the evidence. 
This recommendation is all the more pressed upon fishermen, as Great import- 
by such inquiries and reports which are mentioned above they are J^ t e t °f 
usually enabled to get a settlement of the damage they sustain fishermen, 
without having recourse to legal preceedings, or incurring any 
expense ; and, indeed, it would appear that the cases already de- 
cided have had the effect of making trawlers and other fishing boats 
more careful than hitherto in avoiding doing injury to each other. 
d 
