§ MR. MORTON (Sutherland)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he can say why the steamer "Nightingale," which was put on by the Congested Districts Board to run between Loch Clash and Ullapool, calling at intermediate ports, in December, 1905, was taken off that service in April, 1906; and whether he will consider the desirability of giving a longer trial than four months to test the usefulness of the experimental service to aid the fishing and other industries on the west coast of Sutherland.
§ MR. SINCLAIRI may refer my hon. friend to the last report of the Congested Districts Board, which gives particulars on this matter on page 16. The earnings from fish traffic which it was particularly desired to assist were so small that a repetition of the experiment was not felt to be justified in view of the heavy charge involved upon public funds.