§ SIR EDWARD WATKINasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the fact that, within the six 1691 miles of coast line between Romney and Dungenness, there are now to be seen, at low-water, twenty three wrecks of ships, some of which are in positions dangerous to navigation; and, whether measures will be taken to remove such wrecks; if at least twenty vessels are not stranded on this part of the coast every year; and, if he will lay before Parliament a Return showing the losses of ships and lives in the area named since the sitting of the Committee on Wrecked Ships in 1844?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYSir, the divisional officer of Coast Guard reports to me that 20 (and not 23) wrecks are to be seen at low water within the portion of coast named in the hon. Member's Question, three of which have been marked by the Trinity House by wreck-buoys. As the Trinity House have not marked the others, nor made any application to the Board of Trade for the removal of them, I conclude that they are not in such positions as to be dangerous to navigation. The average annual number of vessels reported to the Board of Trade as having been stranded on this part of the coast during the last 10 years is six, and not 20, as stated in the hon. Member's Question. As to the Return to which the hon. Member refers, I have to state that from 1844 to 1854 there was no wreck register kept at the Board of Trade, and that from 1855 to 1865 each year's register would have to be carefully searched, which would take some time; but, if the hon. Member chooses to move for the information subsequent to the last-mentioned date, the Return can be given.