§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been directed to the very disastrous effects of the late severe gale on the north-east coast, whereby in one night, as reported in the 1759 "Standard," thirty-six fishing boats were wrecked and 215 men and boys were drowned, leaving, as stated, 88 widows and 164 young children destitute; and, whether, having regard to this and numerous other disasters to shipping, Her Majesty's Government will provide, at the national expense, additional harbour accommodation on that coast?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYI must say, Sir, that I think a worse case could hardly have been cited as an argument in favour of a harbour of refuge on the East Coast, for the gale referred to was partly from the West and West-north-west. The beats fishing were on the Dogger Bank, off the Dutch coast. If the hon. Baronet thinks that, under those circumstances, they could try to beat up against the gale to get to a harbour of refuge on the East Coast, I must say I cannot agree with him. However, as regards the general question of harbours of Refuge, Her Majesty's Government and their Predecessors have both expressed a decided opinion that the money for these harbours should not be provided at the national expense, but only aided as far as may be by loans under the harbours Act.