§ 2. Mr. BURNETTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that trawl skippers have been stopped by the officer of a fishery cruiser when fishing four and five miles off from the nearest land and ordered to heave their trawl gear and proceed further to sea; and will he authorise the Fishery Board to give instructions to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents?
§ Mr. SKELTONThere is no foundation for the suggestion that it is the practice of the fishery cruisers to order trawlers found fishing four or five miles off land to proceed further to sea. Trawlers are from time to time warned by the cruisers when they are actually on or very close to the limit line but on such occasions no orders are given to the trawlers to heave or lift their gear.
§ Mr. BURNETTWould it not have been preferable that, in cases where there is doubt as to the bearings, the skipper should have an opportunity of boarding the trawler and getting confirmation or, alternatively, if an officer of the trawler could have an opportunity of checking the skipper's bearings?