§ MR. WATTI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, if he will state when a full inquiry was last held as to the advantage or disadvantage of the use of the seine net to the herring fishing in the Clyde; and what evidence he requires before authorising a further inquiry to be made into the present state of the case, and into the opinion of the fisherman on the question.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. Sinclair,) ForfarshireThe last formal inquiry into questions affecting the herring fishery in the Clyde area was held in December, 1902, but since then investigations have been conducted in connection therewith, and the local fishery officers have also furnished reports thereon from time to time. A lengthy Report on the subject by the Scientific Superintendent is contained in Part III. of the Board's Report for 1906, but the investigations have not yet been concluded, and, pending their conclusion, no good purpose would be served by holding another inquiry, particularly in view of the fact that there is a sharp conflict of opinion among those interested in the matter on the various points involved.