§ SIR DAVID WEDDERBURNasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been directed to alleged infractions of the Fishery Laws on the part of steam trawlers off the eastern coasts of Scotland and the north of England, and to the want of efficient means for enforcing the law in those waters; and, whether he is prepared to 1808 take any measures for the better enforcing of the Fishery Laws by despatching a gunboat to the northeastern coast or otherwise?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, my attention has been called within the last few days to alleged infractions of the Fishery Laws by steam trawlers, and I have called for a report from the captain of the Coastguard ship at Hull on the subject. It is open to the owners of any boats whose nets are injured, in breach of the Fishery Laws, themselves to prosecute the parties in fault. A gunboat will be despatched to watch the proceedings of these trawlers if it is necessary to do so; but it is doubtful whether the Admiralty have any legal power to interfere.