§ MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, with reference to the recommendation of Stonehaven by the Parliamentary Committee on Harbour Accommodation of 1884, as being from its geographical situation and natural advantages one of the seven places in Great Britain where improved harbour accommodation was most urgently needed and most effective in the interests of the shipping and fishing of a large stretch of coast, whether the fishermen of surrounding fishing ports have recently sent to him copies of resolutions passed unanimously at meetings held by them in favour of improving Stonehaven Harbour: and whether he has any scheme in consideration whereby the money may be found for improving Stonehaven Harbour?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonIn reply to the hon. Member, I have received resolutions from three fishing ports in Kincardineshire in favour of a Harbour of Refuge at Stonehaven, the construction of which, on the Estimate of the Parliamentary Committee of 1884, would cost from £80,000 to £100,000. I regret to say that there is no fund at my disposal out of which any payment can be made towards such an undertaking. I may point out that there are other harbours similarly situated to Stonehaven, and that the question of a Harbour of Refuge on the East Coast of Scotland was settled by the Committee of Experts who sat in 1884, on whose recommendation a Harbour of Refuge is now in course of construction at Peterhead. If the authorities at Stonehaven have any smaller scheme in contemplation which would come within the scope of the assistance given by the Fishery Board, such a scheme would be considered, with others of a similar nature, when the Fishery Board has funds to undertake a fresh work.