§ SIR T. ESMONDETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will consider the advisability of appointing a Government Inspector in addition to the three Inspectors of Fisheries for Ireland, whose special duty it will be to attend to the 713 mackerel-curing industry, in view of its large and growing importance.
§ The following questions on the same subject stood upon the Paper:—
§ CAPTAIN DONELANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a memorial from the mackerel-curers of the Counties of Cork and Kerry, praying for the appointment of an inspector, specially fitted to judge the quality of the fish and the barrel, and with power to affix the Government brand, at a small fee per barrel to cover the costs of salary and expenses, as practised with good results in the herring-curing trade in Scotland; and, further, praying that efforts should be made to induce the Government of Russia and the United States to reduce their import duty on cured mackerel to that on cured herrings, the duty on cured herrings being 7s. per barrel in Russia and 4s. 2d. per barrel in the United States, whereas the duty on cured mackerel is 28s. per barrel in the former country and 6s. 3d. per barrel in the latter; and whether, in view of the fact that Irish mackerel-curers are at present practically dependent on American markets for the sale of their produce, and the desirability of encouraging this growing Irish industry, he will grant the prayers contained in this memorial?
§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a memorial from an association of mackerel-curers in the Counties of Cork and Kerry, pressing for the appointment of an additional fishery inspector in Ireland with the special function of looking after the mackerel-curing industry, which is fast increasing in that country; whether it would be possible, as suggested by the memorialists, to make the office self-supporting by establishing a Government brand for cured mackerel, at a small fee, similar to the herring brand in Scotland; and whether the Government propose to adopt, the suggestion of the memorialists? Also, whether he has received a memorial from an association of mackerel-curers in the counties of Cork and Kerry, asking that the Government should cause representations to be made to the Governments of the United States and of Russia respectively, with a view to the reduction by these coun- 714 tries of the import duty on cured mackerel; whether he is aware that the import duty on cured mackerel in the United States is 6s. 3d. per barrel, and in Russia 28s. per barrel, as against an import duty in these countries on herrings of 4s. 2d. per barrel and 7s. per barrel respectively; and whether he will cause representations to be made in the sense suggested?
§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork County, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether, in view of the importance of the mackerel fishery in Ireland, he will consider the advisability of appointing a Government Inspector, whose sole duty it will be to attend to the mackerel-curing industry; and, whether he will establish a Government brand similar to the herring brand in Scotland?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY, Newcastle-on-Tyne)In answering the questions of the hon. Bart. (Sir Thomas Esmonde), it will be convenient that I should at the same time answer four other questions on the paper relating to the same subject. In December last I received the memorial to which reference is made, from the Irish Mackerel Fisheries Association; and the reply given to that memorial stated that the question of establishing a Government brand for Irish-cured mackerel had been engaging the attention of the Government, but that the matter was one requiring very careful enquiry, and that legislation would be necessary to provide for the branding fee, and the punishment of any infringement of the brand. It was also stated that the question of import duties of cured mackerel exported to Russia and the United States would form an element in the general question, which is manifestly one requiring mature consideration. The Inspectors of Fisheries believe that the reason for the lower tariff in Russia on herrings, as compared with mackerel, is that herrings form a staple article of diet among the Russian peasantry. As regards the United States, the mackerel fishery forms an important industry for American fishermen, and a high protective duty is imposed on foreign imports of mackerel to that country. With regard to the suggested appointment of an Inspector, in addition to the three Inspectors of Fisheries, the Government are of opinion 715 that three Inspectors are ample for the work of inspection under the Irish Fishery Department. One of these Inspectors is able to devote a considerable portion of his time to the work of fishery development of the Congested Districts Board, and in the performance of his duties he is constantly moving about the vicinity of the mackerel fisheries.