§ MR. MAGUIRE (Clare, W.)I beg-to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that Mr. Hall, Inspector to the Limerick Board of Conservators, swore at the late inquiry at Kilrush, held by the Inspectors Irish Fisheries, that out of 44 or 45. weirs in the Lower Shannon only two or three were fished legally: and what is the reason that those who fish these weirs illegally are not prosecuted; and whether he is aware that the above-named Inspector also swore at the same inquiry that weir owners were fined over £600 last season; and, if so, on what grounds were these fines reduced to an almost nominal sum?
§ MR. BRYCE (for Mr. J. MORLEY)I am informed that the Inspector to the Limerick Board of Conservators did make the statements referred to, and that throughout the year 1893 the Conservators themselves instituted proceedings in several cases for illegal fishing of the weirs. With respect to the second paragraph, the mitigation of penalties in cases in which application is made in this regard rests with the Lord Lieutenant, who, in the exercise of the discretion vested in him, and after consultation with the Local Justices who had expressed their approval of a reduced penalty in each case, made an order to this effect accordingly.