MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the practice of laying down private moorings in public roadsteads and anchorages and of leaving them there; and if the fact that in many instances the buoys marking these moorings are so large as to be a danger to small craft; whether he is aware of the great inconvenience and danger thereby caused to vessels anchoring in such roadsteads in consequence of the risk thereby created of their anchors becoming foul of the moorings laid and left there; and whether the Board of Trade have any power or authority to interfere to prevent 469 such a monopoly of portions of public roadsteads by private individuals; and, if so, how and under what conditions that power is exercised; and, if not, whether they will consider the propriety of issuing notices to mariners, or of taking such other steps as may be necessary to put an end to a practice dangerous to shipping?
§ MR. BRYCEThe Board of Trade have received no complaints regarding private moorings in public roadsteads; but if the hon. Member will let me know to what harbour or roadstead he refers, and will send me particulars, I will communicate with the Harbour Authority having jurisdiction. The circumstances of roadsteads, and the legal powers of the Board of Trade as respects roadsteads, vary in different places, and it is therefore impossible for me to give an answer which shall be at once general and correct to the third paragraph of the question.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESMy question refers to places where there is no Local Authority. Is not the Board of Trade competent to deal with these cases?
§ MR. BRYCEI do not find any reference to those cases in the question. If the hon. Member can call our attention to any particular cases, we will do what we can.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs the right lion. Gentleman aware that a dozen new moorings have been laid down this year in the roadstead of Cowes? Will he pay attention to that matter? There is no Local Authority there.
MR. BEYCEI am sorry to say I have not been to Cowes this summer; but I am quite willing to take it from the hon. Gentleman that that is so, and I will make inquiries.