§ *CAPTAIN WARING (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that between 6th and 20th February trawlers have been constantly at work in the Moray Firth about ten miles off Buckie, and that on 14th February two trawlers were at work west of Lybster and four miles off Castle of Dunbeath; whether these cases have been reported; and, if not, where the fishery cruiser was on these dates.
§ MR. SINCLAIRThe specific cases referred to by my hon. friend have not been reported to the Fishery Board. H.M.S. "Ringdove" was in Devonport during the whole of the period mentioned; the "Freya" was in Aberdeen on 6th and 7th instant (in connection with the trial of the master of the trawler "Strathdon"), and she was cruising to Shetland on 7th and 8th instant; she was in Shetland and west coast waters from the 8th to 18th instant, and patrolling the Moray Firth on 19th and 20th instant.
§ CAPTAIN WARINGI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland a Question of which I have given him private notice, viz., whether his attention has been drawn to an outrage committed in the Moray Firth; when, on the night of Wednesday, 19th February, the fishing boats "Paramount B.F. 628," from Portgordon, was fishing four miles south-east of Wick Bay, a trawler "S.D. 12" passed through her nets destroying four, and on being accused of this sailed alongside the "Paramount" and fired two gun shots into her; whether he will cause inquiries to be made which will lead to the apprehension of the offenders, and what steps he will take to prevent the recurrence of such an outrage.
§ MR. SINCLAIRMy attention has been drawn to the circumstances referred to by my hon. friend, and the matter is now under inquiry.