§ Mr. WATTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his Department will arrange to advertise in the future all Crown salmon fishings in Scotland when within three months of the expiration of the current leases, so that all fishermen who make their livelihood by that pursuit may have an opportunity of seeing the advertisements and tendering for the fishings; will he say that fishermen will have the recommended preference over landowners if the former are willing to give the same rental; and, in particular, will this system be adopted in the fishings in Loch Ridden, Kyles of Bute?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. McKinnon Wood)It is the usual practice of the Commissioners 1018 of Woods to advertise Crown salmon fishings in Scotland in the manner suggested in the question. As regards the general practice as to giving preference to fishermen over landowners, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 7th November. As regards the particular fishings in Loch Hidden referred to by him, no definite decision has as yet been arrived at as to how they will be dealt with next year, when the lease expires. They appear to be within the legal limits of an estuary, so that the method of fishing with fixed nets, which is the plan usually adopted by fishermen who fish for a livelihood, would be illegal.