§ MR. JAMES ROCHE (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he can see his way to direct that the coastguard should render such assistance to the local fishery Boards as is possible in reporting and, where possible, preventing any cases of salmon poaching in the estuaries that may come under their notice; and whether he has received a memorial from the Killarney Fishery Board with reference to the persistent poaching with fixed nets that is taking place in Cromane Bay, at the mouth of the Laune, which, with a little assistance from the coastguard, can be readily stopped.
§ MR. MACARTNEYThe coastguard have orders to report to the Conservators or water bailiffs any cases of illegal practices in regard to salmon fisheries coming to their knowledge. A memorial from the Killarney Fishery Board has been received, but it has always been held that the duty of protecting such fisheries in tidal waters is not one that the Navy can be called on to undertake, and it is undesirable to employ coastguard men in the civil duties of preventing salmon poaching.