§ DR. CLARKI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the sworn declarations sent by various fishermen to the Board of Trade and the Fishery Board for Scotland, regarding the great loss of nets and gear caused by the salmon fishers, and especially those in the harbour of Wick, from which it appears that, in addition to the destruction of property, the salmon nets inside the heads of Wick Bay also cause great obstruction and danger to the herring fishermen during the season; and whether the Harbour Trust has any power over the salmon fishers, as the area on which the nets are placed is within their jurisdiction?
§ SIR C. J. PEARSONI understand that complaints of the nature referred to have been made by the herring fishers. In reply to the second part of the question, I apprehend that the Harbour Trust has no power to interfere except for harbour purposes, including navigation.