Fishery Board for Scotland, 
xxxix 
70 cases last y^ar, as compared with 79 in 1889, and 128 in 1888. 
Twenty-two complaints against trawlers, and 13 against fishing Damaging 
boats, for damaging lines of other fishing boats were investigated 
and reported on, 32 being satisfactorily settled (based on the 
officers' reports), and 2 not proven, while, in the remaining case, the 
complainers declined to accept the officer's decision. Of 21 cases 
of collision, and consequent damage to boats, 20 were satisfactorily Collisions, 
settled. There were 8 complaints against fishing boats for damage Damage to 
to nets, and 2 for the same offence against trawlers, which, together JJ^^^'^^J'^j^^^^^"" 
with a complaint of damage to crab creels, and 2 of abstraction of trawlers, 
buoys, were all satisfactorily s3ttlod. 
Forty-one of the total number of complaints arose from damage Damage sus- 
sustained outside the territorial waters, while 29 occurred inside ^^d o^uSide^ 
these waters. Of these, the Board's fishery officers investigated 57, the territorial 
the commander of the * Vigilant" cruiser 12, and the commander of waters. 
H.M.S. 'Jackal' i. 
It is satisfactory to note that in only one case was recourse had Eesuits satis- 
to legal proceedings, and that in this case the finding of the Sheriff 
confirmed the decision given by the officer. A great deal of 
expense was thus saved to the fishermen through the instrument- 
ality of the Board's officers. Damages amounting to upwards of 
£75 were awarded. 
The Board would here repeat the recommendation which they Fishermen 
made in the last Keport, that any fisherman whose boats, nets, ciam™shoiikr 
lines, or fishing gear are damaged by a trawler or other fishing compfain to 
boat, should immediately complain to the fishery officer of the oncers, 
district, or to any of the commanders of the superintending 
cruisers, who will, in terms of the Act of Parliament, inquire 
into the circumstances of the complaint, and furnish a report 
setting forth, as far as possible, 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 they are usually enabled to get a ^^l^^^lf^^^ 
settlement of the damage they sustain without having recourse fishermen, 
to legal proceedings, or incurring any expense ; and, indeed, it 
would appear that the cases already decided have had the effect of 
making trawlers and other fishing boats more careful than hitherto 
in avoiding doing injury to each other. 
TERRITORIAL WATERS CLOSED AGAINST BEAM 
TRAWLING. 
As stated in last Report, the Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act, Act passed 
1889, closed all the territorial waters round the coasts of Scotland, tidarwaTers 
excepting the Solway and Pentland Firths, against beam and otter round the 
trawling, save only within such areas as might, from time to time, g°otiami 
be permitted by the Board's bye-laws. Reference was also J^^^de rj,^^,^ 1^^^*!^^^^,^ 
to two bye-laws which, under the statutory powers conferred on made. 
