HC Deb 27 July 1885 vol 300 cc49-50
COLONEL KING-HARMAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been directed to the following letter, which appeared in last week's Field:—

"Sir,—I am sure the angling readers of The Field in England as well as in Ireland will be astonished to hear the wretched plight to which our beautiful river has been brought by the Limerick Board of Conservators. To begin with, the Board itself is, as a body, broken up and defunct; the clerk (Mr. Alton), the inspector of water bailiffs and every water bailiff on the river from Haggs Head, down near the Atlantic, to Tarmonbarry, in Longford, have been dismissed for want of funds to pay them; the salmon and trout are in consequence loft to take care of themselves; and the poachers are plying their vagabond trade wherever net, strokehaul, or gaff can be used with the most deadly effect. Where are the Irish Fishery Inspectors, and what action do they mean to take in the present great crisis.

"S. J. Hurley.

"Killaloe, July 13;"

Whether any steps have been taken by the Irish Fishery Inspectors to have the Shannon looked after in the estuary by the Coastguards, and in the middle and upper sections of the river by the Royal Irish Constabulary; whether the Government will prevent the Conservators from receiving, next October, the river funds for current season, which it is expected will amount to something like £2,500; and, whether the Inspectors of Fisheries will be instructed to see that the said moneys shall be judiciously expended in the preservation of the Shannon and its tributaries during the ensuing spawning season?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE)

The Inspectors inform me that immediately on learning that the bailiffs on the Shannon had been dismissed, they applied and received sanction for Coastguards and Constabulary to look after the enforcement of the law regarding the annual and weekly close seasons. I am also informed that there is no power in the Government to prevent the Conservators who may be elected in October next from receiving the river funds, and the law provides that the management of these funds shall be in the hands of the Conservators.

MR. SEXTON

asked whether the Conservators generally failed to levy the 10 per cent on the valuation of the fisheries; and whether the right hon. Gentleman would make a full inquiry into the whole question?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND

said, he was not aware of the circumstances mentioned.