§ MR. COZENS-HARDY (Norfolk, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the crab and lobster fisheries on the North Coast of Norfolk are in danger of being ruined for the want of regulation; whether an application from the Norfolk County Council for the creation of a sea fisheries district co-extensive with the natural boundaries of the crab and lobster 1026 fisheries has been refused by the Board of Trade; and, if so, on what grounds; and whether the Board of Trade will reconsider the application, or take any measures for the protection of the fisheries?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI am aware that the fishermen on a portion of the Coast of Norfolk are desirous that a sea fisheries district should be created, which would include their own and other fisheries. As I understand, they had some difficulty in inducing the County Council of Norfolk to make the necessary application, which was not made until January last. It suggested an extremely limited area, and was, in some other respects, open to objection. The County Council were, however, informed that with their assistance an endeavour would be made to arrange with neighbouring interests for an enlargement of the proposed limits, and negotiations with this object were at once instituted and are now pending.