§ SIR W. WEDDERBURNI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that six steam trawlers were seen at work about eight miles N. N. E. from Port Knockie on Sunday the 4th of March; whether he will state what arrangements are made to prevent and punish such offences against the bye-laws excluding trawlers from the Moray Firth; and whether anchorage is obtainable at Craigenroan for a gunboat when employed for the protection of the fisheries in this locality?
§ * SIR G. TREVELYANOn inquiry I am informed by the Fishery Board that on the 9th instant they received a communication from the Moray Firth Fisheries Association which they at once sent to the Commander of H.M.S. Jackal, who reported to the effect that inquiries had been made regarding the alleged trawling, but that there were apparently no grounds for the complaints, the vessels probably being steam liners 318 and vessels on passage. The Moray Firth is patrolled by the Jackal, which I is specially set apart for the superintendence of the fisheries in that area and its protection against the operation of trawlers. In addition to this, if the letters and numbers of any trawler detected working in the proscribed waters are intimated to the Board, the case is reported to the Procurator Fiscal. There is anchorage off Kingston, three miles west of Craigeuroan, but it is open and unsafe, with wind from east to north to north-west. That is the opinion of the Fishery Board, and it is corroborated by the Admiralty.