§ 93. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many purse-seiners he expects to join the Scottish herring fleet next year; what amount of extra catch they are expected to bring in; and what provision is being made to handle the additional fish.
§ Mr. RossSix new vessels are known to be under construction or on order, and one secondhand vessel is being purchased abroad, for use as purse seiners by British fishermen. I cannot form any useful estimate of the additional herring supplies they will land as this will depend on the way in which the vessels are used and in the areas fished. It may well be that some new problem of handling will arise but, in the opinion of the Herring Industry Board, the supply of herring of suitable quality has on many occasions in recent years fallen considerably short of what could have been handled by the trade.