§ 25. Captain WARINGasked the Secretary for Scotland whether complaints have been received by the Fishery Board that 179 on 1st March a trawler operating about two miles off the village of Whitehills, Banffshire, destroyed fourteen cod nets, and on 11th March twenty nets were destroyed by a trawler in the same vicinity; when the fishery cruiser last visited this district; and what steps he proposes to take to protect drift-net fishermen against the depredations of trawlers engaged in illegal fishing?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am informed that no complaints of damage being done to cod nets near Whitehills on the dates mentioned by my hon. Friend have been received by the Fishery Board. The locality was visited by one cruiser on the 15th inst., and by another on the 16th inst. With a view to preventing damage to cod nets, so far as practicable, the Fishery Board have drawn up a system which provides for the uniform marking or lighting of cod nets when in use, and which has been communicated to foreign Governments in order that their vessels may be aware of the system adopted. The Board have also arranged that special attention shall be given by their cruisers to the cod-net grounds during the present season.
§ Captain WARINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman expect the fishermen to cast their nets within the Three-Mile Limit, where no trawlers are supposed to be?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThis question arises outside the Three-Mile Limit. It is necessary that the places should be marked, because they arc often deserted all night.