GENERAL RUSSELLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, with the two dredgers of a somewhat inefficient type now employed in deepening the new harbour at Gibraltar, about nine years will be required in order to provide anchorage of sufficient 1273 depth to shelter a fleet, and whether, until this is done, the new mole and other works are practically of little value; and whether the Admiralty, under such circumstances, intend, to hasten the progress of the dredging operations?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E)There are at present employed at Gibraltar two powerful steam hopper dredgers; both are efficient, of modern type, and built by the best makers. Besides these dredgers there are certain grab dredgers and special plant for submarine blasting etc., at work. Another specially constructed steam dredger will be sent out shortly, and other plant will follow as the work develops The contract date for completion of the whole of the works at Gibraltar, including the dredging, is December 1904, and at present there are no grounds for assuming that the contractors will fail to comply with this condition.