§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention had been drawn to the proceedings at a meeting of the Board of Conservators of the Lower Shannon, held in Limerick, on 7th February, at which a resolution was passed calling attention to the great injury constantly done to the fishery of the Shannon by the injudicious and reckless raising and lowering of the sluice gates at Killaloe; and what action, if any, the Board of Works had taken in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.From all the inquiries the Board of Works have made they have no reason to believe that any injury has been done to the fishery by the raising and lowering of the sluices at Killaloe; but, in accordance with the resolution passed at the meeting of the Conservators of 7th February referred to in the question, Mr. Reeves, the Chairman of the meeting, waited on this Board, who arranged with him that one of their officers, in conjunction with anyone appointed by him at any time he wished, would make experiments in raising and lowering the sluices, to ascertain whether there was any foundation whatever for the allegations.
§ MR. COXI must ask the hon. Gentleman another question. The Board of Conservators must be aware that great damage was done by the raising and lowering of the sluices. I would ask whether they did not in that resolution state that thousands of fry were left high and dry?
§ MR. JACKSONI have given the hon. Member the information which has been supplied to me. I am told it is absolutely impossible that the damage can have been done in the way described. Arrangements have, however, been made to test the matter, so as to satisfy all persons concerned.