§ MR. HUGH ELLIOT (Ayrshire, N.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that Bye-law No. 6 of the Scotch Fishery Board sanctions beam trawling in certain portions of the Firth of Clyde, which Firth was closed to beam trawling by "The Herring Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1889"; whether he is aware that the fishermen of Largs and other fishing centres situated on the Firth of Clyde complain of the injury which, as the result of this bye-law, is done to their industry, and to the fish supply of the neighbourhood; whether he is aware that the Town Councils of Greenock and Port Glasgow, and the Police Commissioners of Largs, have combined with the local fishermen in attempting to procure the repeal by the Fishery Board of Bye-law No. 6; and whether he will inquire into the circumstances of the case, with the view of procuring the repeal of the bye-law complained of?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Sir C. J. PEARSON,) Edinburgh and St. Andrews UniversitiesThe bye-law referred to relaxes the prohibition of trawling in certain waters in favour only of sailing vessels of not more than eight tons 739 burthen. Complaints were made a few months ago substantially as set forth in the second and third paragraphs of the question, and the Fishery Board were directed to hold a public inquiry, with the result that the facts elicited were not such as to justify the repeal of the bye-law.