§ MR. BIRKBECKasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Governments who were represented at the International Fishery Conference held at the Hague last autumn, have approved the recommendations made by their delegates with regard to regulating the police of the fisheries in the North Sea; and, whether it is probable that any Convention will be concluded on this subject between the Maritime Countries whose coasts abut on the North Sea?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINAll the Governments who were represented at the International Fisheries Conference held at the Hague last autumn, with the exception of Sweden and Norway, from whom no final reply has yet been received, have approved generally of the draft Convention which was recommended by the delegates, and which was, in the main, based on the suggestions made by Her Majesty's Government before the Conference assembled. I have every reason to hope that 1810 an International Convention will be concluded in a few days; and Mr. Trevor and Mr. Kennedy, who conducted the negotiations on behalf of this country with great ability and complete success, have been appointed Her Majesty's Plenipotentiaries for signature of such a Convention, and will leave to-morrow for Holland. Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands will also be represented on this occasion. The Papers will be laid on the Table as soon as practicable; and I anticipate with confidence that the establishment by this Convention of efficient police regulations will be sufficient to check the disorders which have, unfortunately, been too frequent among the fishermen in the North Sea.