§ Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the explanation of the exceptionally good 76W fishing season at present in progress off the west coast; where the shoals have come from; and what was the latest comparable year in respect of numbers of cran which have been caught in the same season.
§ Mr. NobleThe exceptionally good herring fishing off the west coast in October and November is believed to be due partly to the entry into the fishery of recruits from the abundant 1960 year class and partly to environmental factors which have caused an unusual concentration of fish in coastal areas. The Minch herring consist partly of a native stock and partly of migrants from other areas off the west coast and possibly the northern North Sea. The total catch of 106,000 crans for the two months, is the best since the War, the nearest comparable year being 1954 when the catch in the same period was 81,000 crans.