§ Mr. WASONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received representations from Orkney with reference to the iron hurdles which stretched from Clestrain Sound, in Orphir, to the east end of Graemsay, some of which have been removed, but the major portion are still standing in the Sound, a menace to navigation and sailing craft of every description; and if he will make immediate inquiry into the matter?
§ Mr. LONGYes; the Admiralty have been in communication with the Strom-ness Harbour Commissioners and the Scottish Office over this matter. It is not correct to say that the major portion of the hurdles are still standing, as more than half have been crushed to provide a navigable channel half a mile wide with a minimum depth of 20 feet; this passage is marked with a light buoy on either side, rendering it safe for navigation both by day and night by vessels of all descriptions.