§ MR. J. C. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Dundee steamship Loch Maree, which was abandoned off the 285 south-west coast of Ireland on the 10th instant, in latitude 52.30 N., longitude 12 W., was found by the steam-tug William Jolliffe, at 8 a.m. on the 25th instant, 185 miles north-west of Inishahill, and was safely towed into Belfast Lough, where she is now safely anchored, after travelling 250 miles as a derelict off the Irish coast; and will the Board of Trade make such arrangements with the Liverpool Tug Company as will secure its services to look after other derelicts?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. J. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.I received on the 1st instant a report that the tug William Jolliffe, employed by the owners of the Loch Maree, had found and brought into Belfast that vessel, as stated in the question of the hon. Member. The Board of Trade have no power to make such arrangements as is suggested. It is open to any person or Company to search for a derelict or wreck of any description, and to claim and obtain salvage from the owners of the property found and brought into port.
§ MR. J. C. MACDONAIs not the fact that the Loch Maree was so soon found by the tug-boat from Liverpool off the coast of Iceland proof positive that it is a compassable matter within the power of the Board of Trade to find derelicts that have been reported?
§ [No answer was given.]