§ MR. MILDMAY (Devon, Totnes)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he is aware that the fishermen on the coast of the Start Bay, South Devon, having no harbour accommodation of any kind, and having, in consequence, to beach their boats, in all kinds of weather, on their return to shore, have a special breed of Newfoundland dogs, trained to swim out and meet these boats in rough weather, and to bring ashore ropes, without which it would be impossible to beach the boats; and, whether, seeing that sheep dogs are exempted from taxation, on the plea that they are labour-saving, he will consider the expediency of exempting these life-saving dogs from a tax, the strict enforcement of which threatens to cause the extinction of the breed?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT) (Derby)The subject is a new one to me, but it is a very interesting one, and I will make inquiry into the matter.