§ MR. HARMSWORTHTo ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he is aware that, on March 13th, a so-called foreign trawler, named the "Apollo," was 109 detected by pilots belonging to the port of Wick trawling within two miles of Wick; that the flag captain of the "Apollo" was tried in Wick Sheriff Court on March 17th, when he pleaded guilty and was fined £75, which he paid; that the flag captain was a foreigner, while all the crew and the sailing master were English, and that the "Apollo," although given out as belonging to Norway, was built in England and is believed to be a Grimsby trawler; and whether, in view of these facts, he will now consider what steps should be taken to put an end to illegal trawling by British trawl-boats sailing under foreign flags.
(Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) I cannot regard it as accurate to describe these vessels as British trawl-boats sailing under foreign flags, but the circumstances giving rise to the Question are under consideration by the Law Officers of the Crown.