§ MR. J. A. BLAKE (Carlow)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What steps have been taken by the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries for the collection of statistics of the quantity of fish landed in Ireland, for which a sum of £350 was voted by Parliament last Session, and if the next Report of the Inspectors will contain such statistics; and, how soon that Report, which is directed by Act of Parliament to be laid upon the Table of the House three weeks after the commencement of the Session, will be presented?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)The Estimates show that the sum of £350 referred to was voted for the purpose of collecting information required by the Board of Trade, and not for any object connected with the Inspectors' Annual Report. The Inspectors have not as yet been able to do anything more in this matter than take such preliminary steps as the selection of stations round the coast, the making of arrangements for collecting statistics thereat, and the preparation of forms. The Inspectors state that their Annual Report is in active preparation, and will be presented as soon as possible. It has not for many years been found possible to lay it on the Table within the time specified by the Act, owing to changes in the law and other circumstances. 566 This was fully explained more than 10 years ago, in answer to a Question in the House.