§ MR. J. W. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)I beg to ask the first Lord of the Admiralty, whether the Scottish Fishery Board has applied to the Admiralty for a gunboat or cruiser to protect the fishermen on the East Coast of Scotland from the depredations of French luggers; and, whether the Admiralty has complied with this request?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYYes, Sir, but the Admiralty could not comply with the Board's recent application, as there was at the time no gunboat or cruiser available to inquire into an isolated complaint.
§ MR. CROMBIEasked if there was any prospect in the future of such a gunboat being sent?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYsaid it was impossible to cover the whole coast.