§ MR. ROBERT REID (, &c.) DumfriesI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he is prepared to accept such Amendments to the Sea Fisheries Regulation (Scotland) Bill as will continue in favour of the Solway fishermen the exemption as to trawling reserved to them in the Herring Fishery Act of 1889?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Government, on their own responsibility and on full information, excepted the Solway Firth in the Herring Fishery Act of 1889. I have satisfied myself that they were right, and am prepared to accept an Amendment which will permit the continuance of the exemption to which my hon. and learned Friend refers.
§ SIR H. MAXWELL (Wigton)Is it not a fact that since the passing of the Act a separate inquiry has been held into the Solway fishing, and did not the Committee recommend certain modifications and restrictions?
§ MR. R. T. REIDAnd is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Commis- 1738 sion does not, and never did, possess the confidence of the people in the neighbourhood?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI understood no evidence has been brought forward which will shake the main fact—that the fishing in the district is not what is called trawling, but is a very mild form of it conducted in waters where no other fishing can be pursued by the ordinary process.