§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state how many convictions were obtained in the year 1897 against persons engaged in illegal trawling in Scottish waters, and in how many instances there was repetition of this offence by the same master; will he state in how many cases the men elected to go to prison rather than pay the fines imposed, and whether in all cases the trawling gear of convicted trawlers was confiscated?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) Buteshire; I am informed by the Fishery Board that 15 convictions for illegal trawling were obtained in 1897; five offenders went to prison rather than pay the fines imposed; gear was confiscated in three cases; and one master was convicted twice during the year.