§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen N.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if it is within the knowledge of the Government that rewards have been offered to those giving information as to the presence of trawlers in the waters of the Moray Firth outside the three miles limit, whether many men innocent of trawling in the prohibited area have been subjected in consequence to severe penalties; and that trawlers refrain now from entering the Moray Firth for shelter, even in stress of weather, thereby entailing on themselves much loss and danger.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. Sinclair,) ForfarshireI have no official knowledge of rewards such as those referred to by my hon. friend having being offered. Neither am I aware that any trawler has, in consequence, been detected or subjected to any penalty. I understand that the Moray Firth is as freely used as ever for shelter by all classes of fishermen.