HC Deb 29 January 1929 vol 224 c747
14. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the recent depredations of trawlers on the North Coasts of Caithness and Sunderland; and whether this coast-line will in future be more efficiently patrolled?

Sir J. GILMOUR

Complaints as to trawlers working off the North Coast of Scotland have been received recently by the Fishery Board for Scotland and have been investigated, but no definite evidence of illegal trawling has been forthcoming. The matter has received, and will continue to receive, the careful attention of the Board.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Will the right hon. Gentleman send his inspectors to the places which I have mentioned, where any amount of evidence will be forthcoming?

Sir J. GILMOUR

The fishery cruiser officers have been to the district, and I think all the evidence goes to show that the lights which were observed were the lights of boats which were quite legitimately anchored and which were not engaged in trawling.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

If I can produce evidence that some of these trawlers were within one mile of the shore, will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries?

Sir J. GILMOUR

It is not a matter of whether they were within one mile of the shore or not. If a boat is anchored, and a seine net boat is there for a legitimate purpose, there is no necessity for further inquiry.