§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of foreign trawlers that have been reported to the Customs authorities by the Scottish and Irish Fishery Boards respectively for fishing within the prohibited areas since the coming into force of the Act of last year for the prevention of the same, specifying the number reported in the Moray 1501 Firth; whether in any case their fish has been seized by the Customs authorities on entry of the trawlers into British ports; and what is the total value of the catch so seized?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)Five trawlers in all have been reported by the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), and forty-four in all by the Scottish Fishery Board. None of those reported by the former and thirty-eight of those reported by the latter were observed in the Moray Firth. Three seizures have been made by the Customs—two, of the same boat, under notification from the Irish Department, and the third, on report of fishing in Moray Firth, by the Scottish Board. The gross proceeds of the sale of the three catches was £210. It should be added that two of the cases reported by the Department of Agriculture occurred only yesterday, and that in many cases the vessels, knowing they had been observed, did not attempt to land their fish in this country.
§ Mr. PIRIEDoes the Government still seriously pretend, in face of these facts, that the Act that was passed last year is of any use whatever?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy own point of view is the point of view of the Customs.
§ Mr. BOWLESWere the vessels in question British or foreign?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI do not know. It has been reported to me from the point of view of the Customs.