§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if, in view of the fact that the Fishery Board a year ago reported that Portmahomack Harbour required improvement in the interests of the fishermen, that the Fishery Board had no funds at its disposal at the time for the purpose of carrying out such improvements, that solely in consequence of the condition of the harbour the shipment of herrings had declined from 17,317 barrels yearly during the five years ending 1867 to 3,439 barrels yearly during the five years ending 1892, he will state whether the Fishery Board is now in possession of funds to carry out the necessary improvements; and, if not, will steps be taken to make provision for the requisite amount before the trade of Portmahomack is utterly ruined?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonI am sorry to say that the Fishery Board have no funds available for the improvement of the harbour of Portmahomack. Harbours are required at many points along the coast, and the claims of this village are not so urgent as that of several others. The new harbour of Balintore, only a few miles distant, to some extent takes the place of that at Portmahomack, serving as a port for the surrounding country.