§ Order for Second Reading read.
MR. SYKESI hope the House will not think I am unduly trenching on their kindness when I ask them to listen to the reasons which exist for bringing forward this Bill, which deals with a matter of considerable importance to the class of persons engaged in the fishing trade of the country. I have the honour to represent a large coasting constituency (Yorkshire, East Riding), and the fishermen engaged on that part of the coast greatly complain of the serious diminution during the last three years in the take of crabs. It is essential that hon. Members should bear in mind that two classes of crabs are distinguished—the young and the old. The fishermen complain that nearly 60 stone of under-sized crabs are frequently brought ashore to keep up the supply of bait, or perhaps wasted there. It is in their protection I ask the House to agree to the second 1883 reading of this Bill, and, in doing so, I wish to call attention to the fact that it does not affect the Act of 1877, except when complaints are made, and in that case the fishermen who feel themselves aggrieved may petition the Board of Trade, which Department, if it thinks fit, may appoint an Inspector to examine into the subject-matter of that Petition, when, if the Board of Trade are satisfied that there is cause for interference, the Bill, the second reading of which I beg to move, will come into operation.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Sykes.)
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI can only say, in assenting to the Motion of the hon. Gentleman opposite, that I believe the Bill introduced by him will prove to be a valuable amendment to the existing law. The Act which he proposes to amend was intended for the protection of the shell-fish which the hon. Member has taken under his care; but it has proved to be defective, because it contains a clause which permits them to be taken for bait, and it is complained that under that pretext the fisheries are seriously injured. I shall have to propose in Committee some verbal Amendment which I think will assist in carrying out the object in view; but the principle of the Bill I have no reason to dissent from.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Monday next.