§ 28. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider relieving the salmon fishers of Kintyre of the duty of taking off the leaders of their nets on the Sabbath Day on the occasions when it has been too stormy to take them off on the previous evening; and whether he will direct that some relaxation of this regulation be given to the salmon fishers in Kintyre?
§ Sir G. COLLINSIt has been decided by the courts that it is the legal duty of those concerned to remove the leaders of bag nets at the earliest possible moment after 6 p.m. on Saturday when it is not practicable to take them out at or before that hour; and I have no power to direct or authorise a relaxation of the statutory requirements.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs my right hon. Friend aware that Kintyre is a very storm-tossed peninsula, and that very 1668 often it is impossible to remove the leaders of the nets the previous evening, and that they have not been compelled to do so until quite recently, when some commercial body got this regulation put in force. Is he aware also that it is regarded as a very great hardship in the Highlands to work on these nets on the Lord's Day?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have no doubt that the statements made by my hon. and learned Friend are correct, but I have no power, in view of the decision of the courts, to alter the present rule.