§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, having regard to the fact that 33 per cent. of the masters of vessels convicted of illegal trawling in Scottish waters during the years 1896 and 1897 elected to go to prison rather than pay the fines imposed, will he consider the advisability of so amending the provisions of section 10 of sub-section 6 of the Sea Fisheries Regulations (Scotland) Act, 1895, that in such oases penalties may be imposed on the owners of the offending trawlers as well as on the masters?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireThe Government cannot undertake legislation on the point during the present Session.
§ MR. WEIRMay I ask the Lord Advocate why, when I asked him this question two or three days ago, he referred me to the First Lord of the Treasury?
§ MR. GRAHAM MURRAYThe statement made by the honourable Member is not in accordance with my recollection, and I shall be glad if he can point out any record of such an answer.