. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15 the Court of Session shall hold and exercise original jurisdiction in all maritime civil causes and proceedings of the same nature and extent in all respects as that held and exercised in regard to such causes by the High Court of Admiralty before the passing of this Act;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16

The sheriff clerks of the several counties of Scotland shall respectively act as clerks to the sheriffs in maritime causes: Provided always, that neither that officer, nor any other person appointed to any office, or acquiring right to any fees or emoluments in virtue of the provisions of this Act, shall be entitled to prefer any claim to compensation in consequence of the subsequent abolition of such office or fees, or of any alteration therein.

All inferior Admiralty jurisdiction, not dependent upon the High Court of Admiralty, shall continue as heretofore, but the judgments of such courts shall be subject to review solely in the courts of Session and Justiciary respectively: Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall extend or be construed to extend to lessen or take away any salary or allowance now payable to the sheriff substitute of the district of the town of Leith by the commissioners of police of the said town, but the same shall continue to be paid as heretofore.

F25Subject to section 5(2B) of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907, allactions of declarator of marriage, and of nullity of marriage, . . . F26, and all actions of divorce, . . . F27 shall be competent to be brought and insisted on only before the Court of Session.