HC Deb 19 April 1921 vol 140 cc1697-8
19. Sir A. WILLIAMSON

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that 57 Scottish fishing boats suffered loss of nets through the illegal action of German, Dutch and Belgian vessels trawling in the Moray Firth during the months of February and March; and whether he is aware that many of the boats were in consequence compelled to desist from the cod fishing, and that these conditions are all the more intolerable owing to the unfavourable prospects of the herring fishing?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to similar questions on the 12th April. The statements in the question as to the extent and effect of the damage done are in accordance with the information supplied to me by the Fishery Board for Scotland.

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman take counsel with the Admiralty with a view to asking them to send up a couple of torpedo boat destroyers of higher speed than the foreign trawlers in order to keep them off?

Mr. MUNRO

My information is that so far as speed is concerned the Fishery Board cruisers are quite equal to the task.

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that all these trawlers which are alleged to he foreign are really foreign trawlers, and is he aware of allegations that many of them are really Grimsby and Hull trawlers in disguise?

Mr. MUNRO

I have no information to that effect.

Mr. SAMUEL

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the well-known fact that allegations have been made against British trawlers sailing under a foreign flag in order to avail themselves of the fishery ground?

Mr. MUNRO

Certainly I have often heard the allegation made, but I have no information that these particular boats fall within that category.

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no legal evidence at present that there are any British trawlers masquerading as foreigners and that these are genuine foreign trawlers, some of them Allies and some not?

Viscount CURZON

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great deal of damage is done at night and it is impossible to prevent it occurring unless you have a great many more patrol boats and boats of higher speed?

Mr. MUNRO

I am quite aware that damage is often done at night and I doubt whether even the presence of boats of higher speed will prevent it. The nets are left at night, according to my information, and there is very little light and it is very difficult indeed to prevent damage being done.

Mr. C. BARRIE

To whom can these fishermen send in their claim for damage done?

Mr. MUNRO

I am not aware that there is any claim against anyone. No one regrets it more than I do. Any information they have to send should be sent to the Fishery Board.

Forward to