§ MR. ROWNTREE (Scarborough)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to confer upon the Fishery Department for England powers to regulate or suspend beam trawling within territorial waters where it is desirable so to do, as recommended by the Parliamentary Commission of 1878, and by the Royal Commission of 1885, and as conferred already upon the Fishery Boards of Ireland and of Scotland?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Royal Commission on Trawling, in their Report of 1885, stated that they would not be justified in making such a sweeping recommendation as the general prohibition of trawling within territorial waters; but intimated that, in connection with experiments for testing 774 the effect of trawling, power must be given to the authorities superintending them to prohibit trawling or any form of fishing in certain places for such time as may be necessary. The question of conferring upon the Fisheries Department for England the powers referred to by the hon. Member, is one which will receive attention when legislation in connection with the fisheries is under consideration.
§ MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)asked, whether it was not the case that the Scottish Fishery Board had absolute power to prohibit trawling within the three-mile limit?
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSsaid, he did not think the Scottish Fishery Board had absolute power. They had powers greater than the English Fishery Board; but at present it was not contemplated to extend those powers.