HC Deb 16 May 1898 vol 57 c1374
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that the following owners of trawlers—John M'Pherson, 33, Broom Hill Road, Aberdeen (G N 31); William Hamilton, Port Glasgow (S N 66); Thomas Walker, Footdee, Aberdeen (A 673); and William Pyper, Meal Market Street, Aberdeen (A 400)—employed masters during the years 1896 and 1897 who were repeatedly convicted of illegal trawling, and elected to go to prison rather than pay the fines imposed, will he state what steps the Government proposes to take in order to inflict penalties on the owners of illegal trawlers as well as on the masters in such cases as above indicated?

MR. GRAHAM MURRAY

I have already stated the view of the Government on the point referred to.

MR. WEIR

Are these robbers of the sea to be allowed to continue to break the law with impunity?

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