Fishery Board for Scotland. 
xxvii 
V",,.-.-., 
I ear. 
Prosecu- 
tions. 
Vigilant. 
Jackal. 
Garland. 
Watchful. 
Eagle. 
Firm. 
Active, 
Daisy. 
s 
1886 
7 
2 
... 
1887 
3 
i 
1888 
3 
... 
1889 
24 
5 
lo 0\J 
oo 
4 
19 
1891 
22 
i 
1 
8 
3 
Total 
97 
i 
7 
12 
19 
3 
2 
The ' Vigilant ' and ' Jackal ' did very well when their main 
function was to keep foreigners off the territorial waters, settle 
disputes amongst fishermen, prevent breaches of the peace, and 
enforce the provisions of the statutes as to signal lights, and 
lettering, numbering, and registering boats engaged in the fishing 
industry. But now that Parliament has passed an Act drawing a 
line round the entire coast, and authorised the Board to close 
such extensive waters as the Firth of Forth, Aberdeen Bay, and 
the Moray Firth, inside of which every trawler caught fishing is to 
be punished as a trespasser, the old establishment of former years 
cannot reasonably be expected to suffice. 
We are aware that it is a difficult problem how to provide Additional 
adequate protection, except at much cost, along an extensive sea cruisers neces- 
board, when it is so easy for trawlers to receive notice by telegraph sary * 
of the movements of the Government vessels, and regulate their 
operations accordingly. But we again respectfully represent that 
at the present day the ' Vigilant,' which is an old sailing cruiser, is 
not worth the money which she costs to keep up, and that she 
should be superseded by a steam vessel. Besides the ' Jackal ' an 
efficient gun-boat should be- placed at our disposal all the year 
round, and each of the three vessels furnished with a steam launch 
for special service. 
Injuries done by Trawlers or other Fishing Boats to the 
Boats or Gear of Fishermen. 
The number of complaints investigated' and reported on by 
the Board's fishery officers and commanders of fishery cruisers 
last year was 88, as compared with 70 in 1890, 79 in 1889, 
and 128 in 1888. Thirty-six complaints against trawlers, 9 Damage to 
against fishing boats, and 1 against a dredger for damaging lines - 
lines of other fishing boats were investigated and reported on 
by the Board's officers. Of these, 41 were satisfactorily settled 
on the basis of the officers' reports, 2 were cases of mistaken 
identity, while in one case the parties refused to accept the 
officers' decision, and 2 cases remained unsettled. Six cases collisions. 
