§ MR. BODKIN (Roscommon, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has observed that the Annual Report of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries lately presented to Parliament, so far as one important branch of sea fishing is concerned, deals only with the year 1892, though the spring mackerel fishing of 1893 had passed before it was prepared or presented; whether it would be pos- 129 sible for the Inspectors to make a Report at the end of each mackerel fishing season, showing results of season immediately preceding, so that the owners of the fishing vessels and fishermen generally might be able to gain some information where they would be most likely to obtain profitable results during the ensuing season; whether he is aware that such Reports were made during the last years of Sir Thomas Brady's tenure of office, and proved most serviceable to the fishing interest; and for what reason have they been discontinued by his successor, Mr. Cecil Roche?
MR. J. MORLEYThe late spring mackerel fishing had not quite passed when the Annual Report of the Inspectors was presented to Parliament. Special Reports on the spring mackerel fishing seasons of 1890 and 1891 were prepared by the Inspectors of Fisheries, of whom Sir Thomas Brady was one, and the Inspectors have now in hand a Report on the spring fishing season of 1893, which will be issued with the least possible delay.
§ MR. BODKINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how the statement, made at page 19 of the Report of Inspectors of Irish Fisheries, lately presented to Parliament, referring to the mackerel fishing at Arran Island, that "after all deductions, the prices realised by the fishermen averaged 24s. per 100," can be reconciled with the Schedule, at page 23, where the prices given as having been obtained from the buyers were 12s. to 24s. per 100; whether the deductions made were 14s. per 100 fish; whether the quantity of fish landed at this place was, as stated in the Schedule at page 23 of Report, 4,993 hundreds, which, at 24s. per 100, would give to each vessel employed at Arran during that season over £600; and whether it is the fact that any vessel received any such sum of money over and above all deductions?
MR. J. MORLEYI understand that the figures in the Schedule at page 23 of the Report of Inspectors of Irish Fisheries, referring to the mackerel fishing at Arran Island—namely, 12s. to 24s. per 100, should have been simply 24s. per 100. The reduction made for expenses was about 14s. per 100. The quantity of fish landed at Arran was 4,993 boxes, 130 equivalent, in round numbers, to about 300,000 fish—each box containing from 50 to 60 fish. It was not all sold at the same price, but in different quantities at different prices. None of the vessels received a sum of £600 over and above deductions in the spring of 1892. The net amount paid to each boat varied from £27 to £427, according to the length of time employed and the quantities of fish caught. The total earning of the several boats was £2,916, and this sum would yield an average price of about 24s. per box of 100 to 120 fish.
*MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say the fish fetched 24s. per 100.
§ MR. BODKINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will grant the Return that stands on the Paper this day relating to Congested Districts Board (Fisheries)?
MR. J. MORLEYIt is suggested that the Return should be in the following form:—Return showing under the following heads the result of the spring mackerel fishery at Arran Island, County Galway, for the seasons 1892 and 1893, respectively:—(1.) Quantity of fish in hundreds taken by each vessel. (2.) Net amount paid to each vessel. (5). Average price per 100 paid to each vessel. (4.) Gross amount the fish produced. If the hon. and learned Gentleman will move for the Return in Ibis form it will be granted.
§ MR. BODKINI will move it in that form.