§ MR. J. W. BARCLAY (Forfarshire)asked the Lord Advocate, What measures the Fishery Board have taken, or can take, to enforce their prohibition against trawling within the area off the coast of Forfarshire and Fifeshire specified by them; whether it is the case, as alleged, that trawlers frequently trawl by night within the prohibited area in St. Andrew's Bay; and, whether the Board will take such measures as will make their prohibition of trawling within the specified area effective?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)Her Majesty's gunboat Jackal is at present watching the fisheries on the East Coast of Scotland, and her commander has special instructions to enforce the bye-laws against beam-trawling in the prescribed area. Allegations have been made of contraventions in St. Andrew's Bay; but the inquiries by the fishery officers have failed to 167 obtain any evidence of the fact. Although the officers have requested the fishermen to report any case of contravention, no case has been reported. The Board are doing all in their power to prevent the contravention, and will continue to do so.