MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has been able as yet to consider the Memorial addressed by the pollen fishermen around Lough Neagh to the Lord Lieutenant, the Chief Secretary, and the Irish Fishery Commissioners, directing attention to the grievances of the fishermen who, under the provisions of 54 & 55 Vic, c. 20, s. 3, are liable to a penalty of 1s. for every pollen taken under eight inches in length, and praying the Government to introduce legislation limiting the penalty to cases in which pollen under seven inches are taken on the ground that the fishermen are wholly unable to make a livelihood by the capture of pollen of eight inches in length; and whether the Government, having regard to the hardships and poverty of the fishermen and the fact set forth in the Memorial, and endorsed by Mr. Louis Smith and Mr. John Keenan, J.P., Conservators of Fisheries, that the change sought for would not injure the pollen fishery, will take steps by legislation or otherwise for the purpose of effecting the desired alteration?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY, Newcastle-upon-Tyne)The Memorial referred to was not received until the 4th instant. Any alteration in the existing law, which has only been in operation since July, 1891, could only be given effect to by legislation, and the Inspectors of Fisheries believe that in the end the result of the measure will be beneficial to those who now object to its provisions. In any case, it is considered that a period of, say, five years, should be allowed to elapse in order to judge of its effects before the present minimum limit of eight inches be altered.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Then I take it the substance of the answer is that the authorities in Ireland are against granting this concession to the men on the ground that the existing 1421 law has not been long enough in force to give it a fair trial?
§ MR. J. MORLEYAt present.