§ MR. JAMES GILHOOLY (Cork, Co. W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that owing to stress of weather a number of fishermen residing on the shores of Bantry Bay were unable to haul their trammel nets, and that English trawlers when trawling on Sunday destroyed and carried away a number of those nets; and, whether a prosecution will be instituted against the trawlers referred to?
§ MR. MACARTNEYNo information as to the circumstances in question has been received. Last October, in consequence of numerous complaints of illegal trawling and damage done to nets in Bantry Bay, H.M.S. Leda was ordered to the locality and remained there from November 18th to the 11th ultimo, but the commanding officer found it impossible to substantiate the complaints made to him on one or two occasions. The question of prosecution in such cases is not one for the Admiralty to deal with.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that English steam trawlers are in the habit of constantly visiting the fishing grounds off Ballycotton, county Cork, and are seriously injuring these grounds by incessant and indiscriminate trawling; and, whether, in view of the fact that this practice interferes with the livelihood of a very poor class of hard working men, steps will be taken to prevent the destruction of an important Irish industry?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURA public Inquiry was recently held at Ballycotton by the Inspectors of Fisheries relative to steam trawling in the bay, and as a result of the Inquiry a bye-law has been 914 prepared with a view to protect the local fishermen from the operations of the steam trawlers.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I ask whether the bye-laws permit steam trawlers working on Sunday?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am afraid I cannot answer that without notice.
§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)Is there not great difficulty in overtaking these steam trawlers?
§ [No answer was given.]