§ 54. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the state of sprat fishing on the East coast and West coast of Scotland; what is his estimate of future trends; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossThere are wide annual fluctuations both in recruitment to the stocks of sprats and in their distribution and consequently in the number of boats engaged. I cannot therefore predict trends in catches, but I see no reason to expect that sprat fishing will not continue to provide a useful seasonal alternative to other types of fishing. Catches on the East Coast have been below average this winter but on the West Coast they have been higher than previously recorded.