§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. BROADHURST), in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that it was rendered necessary by a decision of the High Court that eels were included in the 11th section of the Act of 1880 relating to fresh water fisheries. That decision was against the desire of all those who were interested in the subject, and of the Fishmongers' Company. The Bill would prevent a loss of £20,000 spent on food imported from Holland. Next to Holland the largest importation was from Ireland. The close time would begin on March 15 and end on June 15, and it was important that the Bill should become law before the 15th instant. He hoped, therefore, that the Bill would be read a second time.
§ MR. JOHNSTONsaid, it was unusual to proceed with the second reading of a Bill that had not been printed, and he hoped that this would not be made a precedent; but, under the circumstances stated by the Under Secretary for the Home Department, he would not oppose the second reading.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Broadhurst.)
§ Motion agreed to.