§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he could state what rights exist, several or other, of fishing for eels in Lough Neagh; what instruments may be used; and what protection has been used by owners or afforded by the Royal Irish Constabulary to such fishery rights, and at whose cost?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle-upon-TyneThe Inspectors of Irish Fisheries state that there are considerable doubts as to what rights exist—several or other—of fishing for eels in Lough Neagh. It would appear, however, that the public have exercised a right of fishing for eels in the lake probably since the reign of Charles II., and they still exercise that right. The instrument that may be used for the capture of eels, during the open season, is the coghill net; but numbers of "long" lines are also used by the public. The former instrument is subject to a licence duty of £3 per season, but no licence duty has ever been fixed for the long lines. The only place where protection is afforded by the police is at Toome, where they protect the water bailiffs in the employment of the Board of Conservators. The only expense incurred by the police is occasional subsistence allowance, which is borne by the Constabulary Department.