§ MR. ANGUS SUTHERLAND (Sutherlandshire)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the attention of the Secretary for Scotland has been called to the contravention by trawl fishing boats of the provisions of Section 6 of "The Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act, 1889," in trawling within the three mile limit on the northern coast of Sutherland; and particularly a fortnight ago when the line fishermen of Portskerra had lines to the value of £40 destroyed by such trawlers; whether his attention has been called to the fact that such trawling is carried on during the night, and without lights being exhibited, in order to avoid detection; and what steps he intends to take to enforce the law and protect the property of these fishermen?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON, Bute)Yes, Sir. The Secretary for Scotland has heard with regret that certain contraventions of the Act referred to have taken place, and that damage has been done by trawlers to the lines of the fishermen. He is also informed that the trawling is carried on as stated in the second part of the question. As regards the last paragraph, I can only repeat the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banffshire some days ago, namely, that the Secretary for Scotland is in communication with the Treasury and the Admiralty with a view of securing more efficient protection in these prescribed waters.