§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that H.M.S. Starling has since 1894 been frequently employed inquiring into complaints of alleged illegal trawling, chiefly in the districts in the North of Scotland, North West Highlands, Hebrides, and Argyllshire, but has never seen a trawler actually engaged in trawling within the proscribed limits, is he aware that within the same period line fishermen, at the imminent risk of their lives, have been instrumental in bringing to justice illegal trawlers, notably the Amy Gertrude, of North Shields, whose master, Thomas Lander, was in the autumn of last year fined £75 for illegal trawling, and the steam trawler, Faraday, of Hull, whose master, John William Abdy, was recently find £100 for illegal trawling in Broad Bay on the 17th December last, and was also fined £20 for having on the same occasion the letters and numbers of his vessel concealed; and will he consider the advisability of offering some reward to line fishermen who successfully perform "Sea Police Duty?"
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEThere has not been time to verify the facts stated 1211 in the first portion of the hon. Member's Question, but I believe they are substantially correct. As regards the latter portion, there are obvious objections of public policy to a proposal to pay for evidence.