§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that during the last few days two trawlers have been working night and day at Loch Roag and along the coast of the Island of Lewis, and that they have completely ruined Loch Roag as a fishing place for the local fishermen; if he will state why there is no officer of fisheries at the present time at Stornoway; whether the new cruiser has visited Loch Roag; if so, when; and whether immediate steps will be taken to deal with illegal trawling around the Island of Lewis?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. Trevelyan, Glasgow, Bridgeton)I am informed by the Fishery Board that the Commander of the fishery cruiser Vigilant returned to Oban on Saturday last after having visited during the week most of the places likely to be frequented by beam trawlers off the West Coast and the islands as far north as Broad Bay and the Butt of Lews, and reported that no trawlers were seen in or near the protected waters. No complaints were received, except at Stornoway, and these were of a vague nature, and founded on hearsay or surmise that lights seen during night were those of a trawler. The reason why there is at present no fishery officers stationed at Stornoway is that during the progress of the great summer herring fishing on the East Coast, and in Orkney and Shetland, it is necessary for branding purposes to transfer all the available West Coast officers to other districts. The new cruiser has not yet visited Loch Roag, but if evidence were forthcoming that trawlers were really working there, she could be sent to the neighbourhood.
§ SIR G. TREVELYANMy hon. Friend must see that one could pick out many places which the cruiser had not visited. It is impossible for it to be in different places at the same time. It is doing very good work, and it goes where it is most required.
§ MR. WEIRIs it not a fact that a cruiser intended for the protection of the fisheries off the Island of Lewis is hundreds of miles from the coast of the island?
§ [No answer was given.]