§ MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware the steam trawlers, which did so much injury to the Clew Bay fisheries last year, have again commenced work- 383 ing, in violation of the bye-law passed by the Inspectors of Fisheries with the view of restricting their operations; and whether, in view of the efforts now being made to develop the Clew Bay fisheries, steps will be taken to enforce the bye-law, and prohibit the ravages of the steam trawlers?
MR. J. MORLEYsaid, the Inspectors of Fisheries reported that it was a fact that steam trawling had been carried on this year in Clew Bay, and that complaints had been made of injuries to the gear of local fishermen in consequence of such trawling. The bay was not at present closed against steam trawling, but he was informed that a bye-law had been made prohibiting this mode of fishing therein during the first four mouths of each year, and that the bye-law, before it comes into force, must be approved by the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council. An appeal against the bye-law had been lodged by the owners of the trawlers, and the hearing of this appeal had been postponed in order to give the appellants and those interested in supporting the provision of the bye-law an opportunity of appearing personally or by counsel before the next meeting of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.