§ SIR JOHN JARDINE (Roxburghshire)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of a notice, published on the 1st March, 1906, by R. L. Hippisley, Colonel, Chief Engineer, Scottish Command, to the effect that the fishing of the Slitrig, and other waters on the War Department's estate of Stobs, is closed to the public from that date, and that all free permits for such fishing are thereby cancelled, and that a limited number of permits will be issued at a small charge; and whether the limitation of the access of the public for fishing heretofore enjoyed is made necessary by military considerations.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) My hon. friend is mistaken in supposing that the public have hitherto had the right of access to the Stobs estate for the purpose of fishing; the fishing has always been preserved. Certain free permits were, however, issued by camp commandants under a misapprehension. It is intended that the preservation of the waters shall be continued.