§ MR. WEIR (ROSS and Cromarty)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that a Return recently published shows that while in England and Wales and Ireland there has been no falling off in the number of persons employed in prosecuting the fishing industry during the year 1898 as compared with 1894, the figures for Scotland show the number of persons so employed to have fallen 25 per cent. in the font-years; and, in view of these figures, will he consider the expediency of having some inquiry instituted for the purpose of ascertaining whether the diminution in the number of persons employed is attributable to the fishing industry in Scotland having been injured through the action of illegal trawling and the want of suitable harbours.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe official Returns show a decline in the number of persons employed in Scotland in connection with the fishing industry between 1894 and 1898. A large portion of the 19 apparent decrease is accounted for by the greater care in compiling the statistics and avoiding duplication. In the course of the same period there has been a considerable increase in the quantity of fish landed in Scotland; and any real falling off in the number of persons employed is to be ascribed in great measure to the increased use of steam machinery and other labour-saving appliances. There seems to be no recent connection between the diminution in numbers and illegal trawling, as the regulations on this subject are more stringent in Scotland than they are in England or Ireland.