§ SIR W. WEDDERBURNI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that complaints are rife of illegal trawling and destruction of nets and lines in the Moray Firth; and whether, before taking steps to replace the fishery cruiser "Brenda," which has unfortunately been wrecked, he will cause full inquiry to be made as to whether the "Brenda" and "Norna" have been found in practice efficient for police work?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI am informed by the Fishery Board that there are complaints of trawling in the Moray Firth by foreign fishing vessels, and there have been some complaints of damage to lines by these vessels. The only redress for this is in the law courts of the country to which the vessel belongs, as arranged by the North Sea Convention. The "Brenda" has not been wrecked. She has been got off the rocks, and is expected to arrive at Leith to-day, and it is hoped she will be ready to resume duty soon. The Fishery Board have found, so far, their fishery cruisers well adapted for the purpose for which they were intended, but it is premature to affirm that their suitability has yet been thoroughly tested.