§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, in the case of convictions for illegal trawl- 1544 ing, or for infringement of the regulations for the lettering, numbering, and lighting, he will arrange for the name and address of the owners of the offending trawler to be inserted in the Fishery Board Report as well as the name of the master?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireThe Fishery Board's Report for 1897 is now completed, and has been submitted to the Secretary for Scotland for presentation to Parliament. As regards the publication of the owners' names, the Board are not of opinion that it would be desirable to publish in the annual Report a list of the names of owners against whom no conviction has been obtained.
§ MR. WEIRI only ask for the publication of the names of the owners of the offending trawlers. Why this tendency to shield the rich trawler and not the poorer one?
§ MR. GRAHAM MURRAYI think the honourable Member's Question tends in the contrary direction. He wishes us to publish the names of the owners where convictions are obtained against the masters?
§ MR. GRAHAM MURRAYThe Question does not say so.
§ MR. HEDDERWICKIs not the master usually one of the owners?
§ MR. GRAHAM MURRAYWhere a conviction has been obtained the name is given. I do not think it fair to insinuate, as honourable Members are doing, that in all cases of illegal trawling there is collusion between master and owner.