§ COLONEL BARNEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he is aware that within the last week four English boats have had their nets cut by foreign trawlers, off Lowestoft, using the scythe-bladed grapnel, and that the fishermen have suffered heavy losses in consequence; and, whether he will inform the House what instructions have been given to H.M.S. "Rose" with the view of stopping these depredations?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I am very sorry to hear of the circumstance named by the hon. and gallant Member, and the more so because the Admiralty has no power to interfere outside the three-mile limit. Representations have been made to Her Majesty's Minister at Brussels, since these vessels appear to be of Belgian nationality, and the matter is now in the hands of the Foreign Office.