§ MR. DOUGHTY (Great Grimsby)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that the steam trawler "Fulmar," of Hull, was arrested by a Danish gunboat on the 9th of April last while fishing along with the steam trawler "Euphrates," of Hull, off Reckcanaes, Iceland, Reckcanaes bearing S.S.E. about 10 miles distant; whether he has received a sworn statement from the captain of the "Euphrates" that the "Fulmar" was between five and six miles from the nearest point of land when arrested; that the captain was transferred to the gunboat; that he asked the commander to take the bearings, urging that he was between five and six miles from the land, but was told to mind his own business and await his trial; that on arriving at Reckevek a court was formed on board the gunboat, consisting of the sheriff, the consul, the commander, and two officers; that the captain strongly denied having broken any law, and when he appealed to the English consul was told that the commander and his mates must be upheld; that he further states that he was coerced to sign certain papers, being told by the English consul that he must sign or not be able to got his vessel away; that he was fined £56, his gear and 200 fathoms of steel warp was removed, and the whole of his cargo, valued at £500, was confiscated; that the loss to the owners is estimated at £800; whether, 48 seeing that Captain Rickell has been master of vessels for his present employers for 28 years, and never before been charged for any offence against the law, he can state what course Her Majesty's Government intend to take in this case; and, what action they propose to prevent the destruction of British fishing interests in these waters.
§ * MR. BRODRICKHer Majesty's Government have brought this and other cases to the notice of the Danish Government and the whole of the facts will be carefully investigated. We have sent a ship to the spot for the purpose.