§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the attention of the Secretary for Scotland has been called to the case of illegal trawling in Broad Bay, Island of Lewis, on the 12th October last, which recently came before Sheriff Squair at Stornoway, and resulted in the master of the trawler "Coquet" (A 390) being fined £50; and, seeing that there have been four convictions in the local courts for illegal trawling in Broad Bay since the 1st January last, will the Secretary for Scotland consider the expediency of introducing legislation such as will admit of the certificates of master of vessels engaged in illegal trawling being suspended, and the trawler interdicted for a fixed period from engaging in trawling operations.
*THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)The Secretary for Scotland is aware of the case of the "Coquet." The other cases referred to by the hon. Member were not all from Broad Bay, and the convictions referred to were against separate trawlers. In none of the cases was there a repetition of the offence, and in only one case was the maximum penalty imposed. The Secretary for Scotland cannot undertake to promise legislation on the subject at present.