MR. MARJORIBANKSasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, during the approaching herring fishing season, the Board of Trade are prepared to secure the presence of a gunboat on the fishing grounds off the coast of Northumberland, to enforce the present Law for the prevention of damage to drift-nets by trawlers, and to protect British fishermen from the depredations of foreigners?
§ MR. BIRKBECKasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether, in consequence of the evidence already given at the inquiry instituted by the Home Office relative to the depredations by Foreign on English Fishermen (and at which abundant proof has been given of constant and increasing destruction of nets, &c), the Government will order gunboats to be stationed on the North 896 and East Coasts of England during the summer and autumn fishing to protect our fishermen as efficiently as the French Government protect theirs on these coasts?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRESir, the inquiry conducted by the orders of the Home Office as to the complaints of the fishermen on the East Coast of the damage done to their nets by foreign fishermen is not yet complete, and the Admiralty have not been furnished with a Report of the evidence given. But instructions have been given to the captains of the First Reserve ships at Leith and Hull to send the two gunboats under their orders, and also the Coastguard sailing vessels, to protect the English fishermen in the case of collision with the French boats during the coming fishing season; the Jackal has also been sent round from the Clyde to the East Coast of Scotland for the same purpose. If it should appear to be necessary, an additional gunboat will be sent from Harwich.