DR. CAMEEON (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the seizure of five fishing nets belonging to Martin Kennedy and Lachlan Curry, fishermen, in Loch-in-daal, on the night July 23rd-24th, by Major Wise, a lessee of certain fishings in Islay; whether it is true, as stated, that the seizure of nets referred to took place half a mile beyond the protected line, and was consequently illegal; whether it is true that a fortnight after the seizure of the nets Major Wise had not lodged any complaint with the criminal authorities, but retained the nets, and refused to deliver them to their owners; and if, on inquiry, it appears that the appropriation and retention of the nets was illegal, in view of the frequency of similar treatment of fishermen by fishing tenants in the Highlands, he will instruct the Procurator Fiscal to institute proceedings in this case?
§ * THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON, Bute)Inquiries are being made into the circumstances 1326 of this seizure of nets, but I am not yet in a position to answer the question. I would therefore ask the hon. Gentleman to repeat the question next week.