§ MR. THOMAS HEDDERWICK, (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether having regard to the incapacity of the gunboat Redwing, and the cutter Active, to overhaul steam trawlers, he will favourably consider the propriety of substituting for these Government vessels others capable from their speed, of efficiently sea-policing the fisheries of Orkney and Shetland?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareIn addition to the gunboat Redwing, and the cruiser Active, the fast torpedo gunboat Niger is frequently employed on fishery duties in the Orkney and Shetland waters. The hon. Gentleman is probably aware that it is the intention of the Government, to place on the Table of the House an estimate for the construction of special vessels to be placed at the disposal of the Fishery Board for Scotland.
§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Government has yet decided to approach the signatories to the North Sea Convention, with a view to an extension of the limit for illegal trawling from 3 to 13 miles?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe answer is in the negative.
§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the contract for the new fishery cruiser has yet been placed; and if so, with what firm?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireThe Fishery Board have not yet entered into a contract for the building of the new cruiser, hut no unnecessary time will be spent in bringing the matter to a conclusion which it is hoped will prove satisfactory to all concerned.