§ MR. ANSTRUTHER (St. Andrew's, &c.)asked the Lord Advocate, If the Secretary for Scotland will instruct the Fishery Board for Scotland that a Return be appended to their next Annual Report, in the form of Appendix H to the 5th Annual Report—"Return of Complaints made to the Officers of the Fishery Board for Scotland of damage done by trawlers and other fishing boats to the boats, nets, lines, and gear of Fishermen," showing the complaints made to the Fishery Board for Scotland of contravention of the byelaw of the 5th of April, 1886, prohibiting trawling within certain waters, and the proceedings taken thereon by the officers of the Fishery Board?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)A Return such as my hon. Friend refers to will be included in the appendix to the forthcoming Report to Parliament by the Fishery Board, and it is intended to publish such a Report annually.
§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)asked the Lord Advocate, If it is within the Powers of the Scotch Fishery Board, with the sanction of the Secretary for Scotland, to prohibit trawling within the three-mile limit on the entire coast of Scotland; and, if not, what is the limit of the jurisdiction referred to?
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALDThis is a pure Question of legal construction of an Act of Parliament, and is matter of opinion, as to which I am no better authority than any legal adviser whom the hon. Member may consult. The matter has not yet been made the subject of any decision of a Court of Law.