§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg ask the Lord Advocate whether, having regard to the numerous complaints of illegal trawling off the coasts of Scotland, he will state why the Fishery Board for Scotland have failed to give effect, so far as the Island of Lewis is concerned, to the provisions of Section 10, sub-Section (1), of the Sea Fisheries Regulation (Scotland) Act 1895, which empowers the Board to make a bye-law or bye-laws directing that the methods of fishing known as beam trawling and otter trawling shall not be used in any area or areas under the jurisdiction of Her Majesty within 13 miles of the Scottish coast; and, whether it is the intention of the Fishery Board for Scotland to make a bye-law dealing with this matter at an early date?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)As the hon. Member should be aware, Section 10, sub-Section (1), of the Sea Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1895, can only be acted upon if the concurrence of the States Signatories of the North Sea Convention has been obtained. The whole question is at present engaging the earnest attention of Her Majesty's Government; but, as it involves points of great difficulty, no decision has yet been arrived at.