§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 843 If a gunboat has been sent to the coast of Sligo and Donegal for the protection of the Salmon Fisheries; and, if so, on what grounds and on whose application this has been done; whether the Irish Inspectors of Fisheries have made any report on this subject, and if any official Correspondence thereon will be laid on the Table; whether the Inspectors of Fisheries in their Reports to Parliament have described the population of the coast in question as peaceable, well conducted, and orderly; whether the Government deem it their duty to send a gunboat to this coast to guard the Salmon Fisheries, instead of leaving this function, as in England and Scotland, to the local conservators and owners of Salmon Fisheries; what instructions have been given to the Commander of the gunboat with respect to his special duty; from what fund the cost of using the gunboat for this purpose will be defrayed; and, whether the gunboat will be withdrawn?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Conservators of the district have represented that under the pretence of fishing for white fish illegal salmon fishing is carried on off the coast of Sligo and Donegal. The Coastguard are empowered, under the Regulations of the Commissioners of Customs, to enforce the provisions of the Fisheries Act (5 & 6 Vict., c. 106, s. 86) to act as constables, &c. They confine themselves to the enforcement of the law in the sea, sea-coast, and tidal waters of rivers, examine boats, seize illegal nets, &c. It is a Coastguard cruiser that is employed on this duty; and, as it is a duty properly devolving upon the Coastguard, the Government consider it only reasonable that the law should be so enforced. The Coastguard will not interfere with the functions of the local Conservators. It is the fact that the Inspectors of Fisheries, in their Report presented last year, described the people as peaceable and orderly.