§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)called attention to certain grievances connected with the trammel net fishing in Bantry Bay, which had been brought under his notice, and which, he trusted, the Chief Secretary for Ireland would find a means of remedying. It appeared, according to the information which reached him, that there were certain hours for setting and taking up nets, and the complaint was that trawlers interfered with the trammel nets, sometimes accidentally, but sometimes, there was reason to believe, wilfully. He thought it was desirable that this matter should receive attention, and that some regulations should be adopted which would prevent or diminish the inconvenience under which the trammel net fishermen now suffered. He desired, further, to bring under the notice of the right hon. Gentleman the fact that the local fishermen in Bantry Bay complained of being deprived of loans, or of difficulties being 948 thrown in the way of their obtaining them, through the intervention of a gentleman named Payne, who was a local magistrate. He trusted that the right hon. Baronet would find means to remove the obstacles, which at present, there was reason to believe, existed in the way of these poor men obtaining the assistance which the Legislature intended them to receive, and which was so beneficial and even necessary to them in the successful prosecution of industries which it was desirable to foster by every practicable means.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)said, that he was necessarily ignorant of the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member, of which he then heard for the first time. He did not quite understand what it was that the hon. Member desired to have done in order to remedy the grievances of which the hon. Member complained on behalf of the trammel net fishermen. All that he could at the present moment do was to promise to call the attention of the Fishery Board and the Inspector to both the points which had been raised by the hon. Member, in order that they might carefully inquire into the matter, and take steps to remove any ground of complaint which might be found to exist.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and Mr. JACKSON.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time.
§ House adjourned at half after One o'clock till Monday next.