§ Mr. FALCONERasked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been directed to cases of sheep-worrying on the farm of Monkton Hall, near Musselburgh, where, on 8th December, two ewes with lambs were badly worried, and on the night of 12th March 12 lambs were worried to death; whether he is aware that the sheep were watched every night for two months by the shepherd and a police constable, and on. the last occasion the dog was unmistakably identified; that the owner has made no compensation for the loss, and the dog has been temporarily removed to another part of the country; and that the farmer reported the matter to the procurator fiscal of Midlothian, but no action has been taken; and whether the Lord Advocate will direct the necessary proceedings to be taken under the Dangerous Dogs Act to have the dog destroyed, and also for the protection of the flocks of the country issue general instructions to all procurators fiscal directing them to carry out the Act in such cases?
§ Mr. UREMy attention has been directed to the cases mentioned by my hon. Friend, and I have given directions that proceedings be taken under the Dogs Act, 1871. I have considered the question whether general instructions should be issued in order that the Dogs Acts may be efficiently administered in Scotland, and I have decided to give the appropriate directions to the procurators fiscal to secure that object.