MR. STANLEY WILSONI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what are the reasons alleged by the Scottish Fisheries Board for advising that the waters outside the territorial limit of three miles should be enclosed in the Moray Firth and British vessels prohibited from fishing there, and whether any scientific investigations have been carried on in the prohibited waters; and whether the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland have stated that whilst the Moray Firth by-law is legal under the Scottish Act of 1889, the Act is not in accordance with International Law, or the North Seas Convention of 1882, or the Schedule of the Fisheries Act of 1883.
§ MR. SINCLAIRWhen By-law No. 8, closing the waters inside a line drawn from the Ord of Caithness to Buckie was passed, the chief reason submitted in support was: The primary object in making the by-law was the great desirability of preventing the capture of immature fish by trawlers, which it was believed existed in considerable numbers in the closed area. Similar arguments were advanced when By-law No. 10 protecting the whole of the Firth was passed. Scientific investigations have 1820 be enconducted within the Firth. The Answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.
§ MR. SINCLAIRScientific investigations of more than one kind, and very largely by the "Goldseeker," which is the vessel conducting investigations for this country under the International Scientific Investigation Scheme.