§ MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade when, where, and by whom any inquiry was held into the loss of the Grimsby smack Sobriety, with four hands, last April; and why no intimation of such inquiry and its result has been communicated to the widows or relatives of the deceased fishermen, or can be obtained by them at present?
§ MR. BRYCEDepositions on oath were made on the 9th of April by the skipper and boatswain of the Basset Hound before the principal officer of Customs at Hull, A deposition on oath was also made on the 10th of April by the second hand, who was the only survivor of the crew of the Sobriety. Copies of those depositions were supplied to the solicitors for both vessels, and would also be supplied to the relatives of the deceased persons if they applied for them. A statement was also made and signed by the second hand of the Sobriety before the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Grimsby on the 9th of April. Reports were made to the Department by the Board's officers at Hull and Grimsby; but as they were based on ex parte evidence, the Board do not think it desirable to communicate them to the parties, especially as a formal inquiry has been ordered into all the circumstances of the case.