§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a considerable number of foreign fishing boats are now engaged in fishing with the Danish seine net in the Firth of Clyde; that the use of this net is most damaging to the herring fishing, breaking up the shoals of herring and destroying the fishing; and whether he will take steps to have the use of this net prohibited in British waters?
§ Sir J. GILMOURSo far as I am aware, only a few foreign fishing vessels are at present engaged in fishing in the Firth of Clyde with the Danish seine net. No definite evidence that the use of the Danish seine net is injurious to the 1235W herring fishing has hitherto been advanced, but if any such evidence is furnished to the Fishery Board it will be carefully examined in connection with the general consideration which they are giving to the question of seine net fishing. I understand that the foreign vessels concerned fish outside the three-mile limit, which is the area within which prohibition of their operations can be enforced at present.