§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that property of the value of £110, belonging to the fishermen of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, in the county of Northumberland, was destroyed last week by trawlers operating within the recognised limit; and whether, seeing that these offences occur with great frequency, he is prepared to take any further steps to prevent the inshore fishing industry on the north-east coast being wilfully destroyed by the illegal operations of these trawlers.
§ MR. RITCHIEI have received no information as to the alleged destruction of fishing gear at Newbiggin, but the matter was referred to at the annual Fishery Conference on the 6th instant. Trawling within this district is prohibited by bye-law made by the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee, and it is for that body to take such steps as may be necessary to enforce their own bye-law.