THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the ratio of net-caught to rod-caught salmon and sea-trout in Scottish rivers (excluding the Tweed) in 1959; whether this figure has varied markedly over the last seven years; and whether for any particular large river it has consistently been more than two-thirds greater than the national average.]
62§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, the ratio of net-caught to rod-caught salmon and sea-trout by weight in Scottish rivers excluding the Tweed in 1959 was 5.5 to 1. Over the past seven years the ratio has varied between 3.7 to 1 and 5.5 to 1, and has averaged 4.5 to 1. As regards the third part of the Question, there are several rivers in which the ratio has been consistently more than two-thirds above the national average.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his Answer, I wonder whether he could tell us if any inquiries are going on as to why these particular rivers should be so much above the national average?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEENo, my Lords. I understand my right honourable friend the Secretary of State is considering the possibility of holding an inquiry into the whole question of salmon fishings. I do not think there can be any inquiry as to why particular rivers are above the national average at the present moment.