§ MR. ROUND (Essex, N.E., Harwich)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is now prepared to state what steps lie will take in order to preserve the fishery grounds off the Colne and Blackwater Rivers from further injury by the removal of cultch, pending further legislation, if such be required?
§ MR. DODDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the meetings of fishermen and others at the East and West Mersea, Brightlingsea, and Tolles-bury, Essex, protesting against the removal of cultch and consequent destruction of the fishing grounds in the Colne and Blackwater; and whether he has consulted, or will consult, the Law Officers of the Crown as to the possibility of protecting these public fishing grounds by making use of the Crown rights until other provision is made by law?
§ * MR. MUNDELLAI am taking advice as to whether the Crown rights could be used to prevent the removal of cultch from the public fishery ground in question, but I very much doubt whether, even if the law admits of such an action, effectual means exist for carrying it into effect, and, on the whole, I have decided that the best course is to ask Parliament to empower Fishery Committees to make bye-laws on the subject. I propose, therefore, to ask for leave to bring in a short Bill with this object at an early date.