§ MR. WASON (Ayrshire, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that beam trawlers have been constantly at work during the winter months within the prescribed limits in the Firth of Clyde: and that, on the 27th of April, a fisherman, by name William Leckie, lost lines of the value of £6 by beam trawlers; and whether he will take steps to see that the law is enforced, and that the owners of beam trawlers are made amenable to justice for infringing the law?
§ * MR. J. B. BALFOUR(who replied) said: The Fishery Board inform me that the commander of the Vigilant reports to them that if the beam trawlers have been constantly at work during the winter months he has not heard of it, though he has inquired at the visited ports; neither has he observed any trawlers at sea except sailing trawlers of not more than eight tons as permitted by Board's bye-law. The Board have no-information as to the lines alleged to have been lost by William Leckie, who should have reported his loss when it 777 occurred, if he had good grounds of complaint. As regards the last paragraph of the hon. Member's question, I may mention that the Fishery Board have recently purchased a new steam cruiser for service on the West Coast.