§ DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scotch Fishery Board have any means of ascertaining whether, since the introduction of beam trawling, the supply of fish to the Scotch markets has appreciably increased, and if the price to the consumer is, speaking generally any less, now than formerly?
§ SIR G. O. TREVELYANThe Fishery Board have no means of ascertaining the quantity of fish supplied to the Scottish markets; but from the statistics in their possession showing the quantity landed in Scottish Ports from 1884 to 1894, both inclusive, it is seen that the catch, while it has fluctuated considerably, has been very similar in 1884 and 1885, 1893 and 1894. The Fishery Board cannot supply information as to the price paid for fish by consumers, the only prices given in the Board's Returns being those obtained by the fishermen. But I may add that some general inquiries are being made by the. Fishery Board into the retail prices at different periods, including, of course, the present time.