§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, The reason of the delay of the report of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries for 1875, which, under the Act 5 and 6 Vic, c. 106, s. 112, should have been made before January 31, 1876; whether it is true that the report for 1874 was not made till June, 1875; and, whether it will not be possible to arrange for the making of the report within the prescribed time?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHWhen the Act 5 & 6 Vic. c. 106, s. 112, directed the Report of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries to be made within a month of the termination of the year to which it related, there were no Boards of Conservators in Ireland, and scarcely any statistics to be collected. A large amount of statistical information, extending, of course, up to the 31st of December in each year, is now annually forwarded by the Board of Conservators to the Inspectors of Fisheries, and published in the Appendix to their Report. These Returns are often delayed, and this year some of them have only been very recently supplied, so that it would be now obviously impossible to make this Report by the date fixed in the Act referred to. The Report for 1874 was not made till June, 1875, and that for 1875 will, I am told, be completed in a few days. I am bound to say that I think, both this year and last, the delay in this matter has been greater than ought to have occurred; and I will endeavour to secure that the Report for next year shall be presented at an earlier date, though, for the reasons I have given, I do not think it would be possible for the Inspectors to comply with the precise requirements of the law.