Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Lord Advocate what is the total number of people employed in connection with whale hunting in Shetland and the total number of people employed in connection with the herring fishing in Shetland, stating in each case the number of British subjects as compared with foreigners?
§ Mr. UREThe number of British subjects employed in connection with whaling in Shetland in 1908 varied throughout the season from 67 to 79 and the number of foreigners from 197 to 229; in 1909 British subjects employed varied from 76 to 88 and foreigners from 200 to 207. The total number of people engaged in the herring fishing in Shetland in 1908 was 11,542 and in 1909 13,992, but of these a very large proportion are, of course, not Shetlanders. None of them were foreigners.
Statement showing the quantity of Herrings landed at Stations on the West Side of Shetland, during the years 1899 to 1909, inclusive:— 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Crans. Whalfirth 1,569 1,274 2,280 630 1,242 2,775 692 509 — 1,586 179 W. Sandwick 2,510 5,533 5,172 2,624 1,971 1,973 288 289 8 — 54 Northroe 4,531 3,317 6,102 3,627 2,728 4,324 137 1,610 7 906 168 Ronasvoe 25,577 24,532 23,992 11,592 10,950 15,892 3,455 60 — 1,205 — Hillswick 20,015 15,025 8,044 7,964 1,216 620 3 227 285 Mamarvoe — — — 16,003 3,092 273 1 4,210 613 Mangaster — 1,129 1,237 1,603 722 49 — — — Walls 14,302 11,878 10,695 2,158 7,720 13,623 6,475 1,586 101 2,011 96 Papa 3,510 1,203 — 1,550 345 — — — — W. Burrafirth 1,678 1,496 669 1,624 782 389 — 358 — Snarraness 2,761 1,725 865 1,551 551 452 — 281 —
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that, in consequence of a decline in the herring fishing industry in the ports of Whalfirth, West Sandwick, North Roe, Ronasvoe, Hillswick, Walls, and Papa Stour since 1903, when whaling was begun in Shetland by the Norwegians, after it had been pro hibited in Norway and the stations in that country had been burned by the fishermen, a number of the Shetland fishermen have been reduced to poverty and numbers of young men have been, and are being, forced to emigrate; and will the Secretary for Scotland, in view of this situation and of the fact that the Government has refused to intervene by mitigating or abolishing the whaling evil, consider the advisability of granting assisted passages to those fishermen who are anxious to emigrate, but are financially unable to do so?
2256W
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked when whaling was started in the Shetland Islands by Norwegian whale hunters, the number of steamers employed in the industry each year and the annual catch of whales; also the quantity of herrings landed annually since 1898 at the following herring fishing ports in Shetland adjacent to the whaling stations: Whalfirth, West Sandwick, North Roe, Ronasvoe, Hillswick, Walls, and Papa Stour?
§ Mr. UREWhaling in Shetland by Norwegians began in 1903. Official Statistics (obtained for first time under powers conferred by the Act of 1907) are available for only 1908 and 1909. The number of steamers employed in each of these years was eight, and the catch was 526 whales in 1908 and 498 in 1909. The quantity of herrings landed at the herring fishing ports mentioned since 1898 is shown in the accompanying table:—
§ Mr. UREThere has doubtless been a decline in the herring catch from the ports enumerated, though I am unable to accept all the inferences drawn by my hon. Friend. I am informed, however, that there has been a reduction in the emigration figures of the last two years. The answer to the concluding part of the question is in the negative.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Lord Advocate if be has received a petition from the county council of Zetland, pointing out the continuous failure of the herring fishing on the West and North-West fishing grounds of Shetland, and praying that the landing of whales in Shetland be prohibited or, alternatively, that the Report of the Committee of 1904 limiting the number of steamers to one for each of the four stations be given effect to by legislation; and if he will take 2257W the same into his favourable consideration?
§ Mr. UREThe petition has been received by the Secretary for Scotland, and will receive consideration.