§ SIR EDWARD BIRKBECK (Norfolk, E.)asked, Whether the First Lord of the Admiralty could confirm the statement made in the House on Friday last by the Secretary to the Board of Trade — namely, that the force of cruisers in the North Sea would be increased to five steamers and four sailing cruisers; and, if so, whether he was in a position to state that the cruisers in question had been despatched to the fishing grounds, and were prepared to protect and defend English fishing ves- 471 sels from an expected attack by foreign fishermen?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (), Middlesex, Balingin reply, said, if the information given by the Secretary to the Board of Trade was derived from the Admiralty it was, no doubt, correct. He believed that the total number of vessels detailed for the duty referred to was nine, five of which were steamers, and four sailing vessels. The Admiral Superintendent of Reserves would to-morrow inspect some of the cruisers to be despatched to the fishing ground, and later on other vessels would follow. It would not be possible always to keep nine vessels there, as it would be necessary for them occasionally to return for fresh water and coal. The Government were most anxious to give adequate protection to the fishing interests concerned; and if they found either from the area of ground to be patrolled or for other reason, that they were unable to sufficiently perform this duty they would have to see what other measures would have to be adopted.