§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can inform the House which of Her Majesty's ships of war are employed off the Canadian coast or the coast of Newfoundland, in keeping the peace between the fishermen of Newfoundland and those of France; what part, if any, of the expense of thus protecting the interests of the fisheries in Newfoundland is borne by the colonists, or whether it is wholly borne by the taxpayers of this country; and whether it is true that the Canadian Authorities have refused to submit the claims of the fishermen to arbitration?
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingHer Majesty's ships Emerald, 1761 Pelican, and Forward were employed in 1890 on fishery duty on the coast of Newfoundland, and, as this is part of their ordinary duty, the whole cost is defrayed from Naval Votes. The Canadian Authorities have no control over Newfoundland.