HC Deb 01 January 1894 vol 20 c551
* MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that Her Majesty's Government has failed to provide the Scottish Office or the Scottish Fishery Board with sea police to protect the fishing industry around the Island of Lewis, and that, since this fact has become known, trawling has increased to an alarming extent, immediate steps will be taken to deal with the matter before the rich fishing grounds of the districts are ruined and the local fishermen are robbed of their means of livelihood?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

The hon. Member has already been informed by me that the question of providing additional cruisers is under consideration of the Government in connection with the Estimates for 1894–95, and a decision will no doubt shortly be arrived at.

MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman in considering the matter bear in mind that the Select Committee strongly pointed out the urgency of this matter?

* MR. WEIR

And will the right hon. Gentleman also state what he proposes to do in the meantime, seeing that the trawlers are invading the fishing grounds around the Island of Lewis in large numbers, ruining them and robbing the fishermen of a livelihood. And will the right hon. Gentleman also state whether the fishermen who board these trawlers at the risk of their lives will be rewarded for their services?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

Fishermen are only doing their duty as citizens in the same manner as is done by people on shore in aiding in the detection of misdemeanour. They will, of course, be paid their travelling and other expenses.

* MR. WEIR

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that several fishermen were drowned the other night while in pursuit of one of these steam trawlers? Will the widows and orphans of these men be provided for by the Scottish Office?

[No answer was given.]