§ 87. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the master of the trawler "Cevic" FD 186, of Fleetwood, was tried for illegal trawling in November last; that the fishery cruiser had photographed the trawler within a distance of 30 to 40 feet, and the officers of the cruiser had identified her; and that the sheriff's substitute at Campeltown held the case not proven in respect of evidence of alibi given by the trawler's crew; and, seeing that the fishery cruiser spoke to the trawler and threatened to fire, but having nothing to fire with had to refrain from doing so, is he now in a position to state what steps, other than providing the fishery cruisers with ammunition, he proposes to take in identification of the trawlers so that they may be successfully prosecuted?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)I am aware of the case to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, in which the facts were substantially as stated in the question. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the measures taken with a view to the identification of offending vessels, and, in particular, of vessels which conceal their registration letters and numbers, but no effort will be spared to secure the enforcement of the law.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENAre the boats not to get some ammunition? It needs something more drastic.