§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked the Secretary for Scotland, If the Fishery Board for Scotland are now satisfied that damage is done to the fishings in the Moray Firth, and to the nets and lines of the fishermen engaged in such fishings, by beam trawlers; whether the Board will make a bye-law prohibiting beam trawling in the Moray Firth; and, whether he will recommend the Scotch Fishery Board to hold an inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining whether such damage is or is not done by trawlers in the Moray Firth, with a view to prohibiting trawling therein?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Fishery 1085 Board inform me that they are not satisfied that damage is done to the fishings in the Moray Firth or elsewhere by beam trawling; but they are engaged in a series of experiments with the view, if possible, of settling the question. They further state that no case of damage to the nets and lines of fishermen engaged in fishing in the Moray Firth has been reported to the Board under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1885, and that any complaints, if made, will be duly attended to. Under these circumstances, the Board, as at present advised, do not intend to make a bye-law as suggested.