§ 11. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will get the Fishery Board to place some flounder spawn in Lochindaal, Islay; and whether he is aware that when some flounder spawn was placed there years ago there was an improvement in the fishing for fishermen of the villages of Bowmore, Bruichladdich and Portcharlotte for a number of years until the flounder beds were largely depopulated by English steam trawlers coming in and trawling in the darkness in the loch?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBefore this question is answered, may I draw attention to the fact that Members are supposed to be responsible for the accuracy of their questions? How can the hon. and learned Gentleman know that these were English steam trawlers, if they were fishing in the dark?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)I am advised by the Fishery Board for Scotland that the physical conditions, currents, nature of coast, etc., in Lochindaal are such as to render it unlikely that an experiment in the deposit of spawn as suggested would be of any benefit to the local fishermen. The previous experiment, which the hon. and learned Member apparently has in mind, was with young plaice, a number of which were liberated in Lochindaal in 1904. The results were inconclusive, and did not justify a repetition of the experiment.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs not my right hon. Friend aware that the best authorities are the fishermen who fish there, that they have found that the introduction of this spawn was enormously beneficial, and that they know from their own practical experience that it produces an increase in their earnings? Is not the hon. and gallant Member for Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) also aware of the fact—[Interruption.]—that there is no difficulty in knowing an Englishman in the dark.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs there any reason to suppose that there is any truth in the insinuations contained in the last part of this question?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENThey are not insinuations at all, but statements of fact.
§ Sir J. GILMOURWith regard to the last part of the question, in the last seven years there have only been two complaints regarding illegal trawling in Lochindaal.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs not the fact that there has been no recent complaint due merely to there being only two fishery cruisers to patrol an enormous area, so that really complaints are wasted?