§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., North)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to his statement that the Howth fishermen, who have been complaining of the destruction of their nets and lines by steam trawlers, were unable to give any clue to the detection of the offenders, whether he has subsequently ascertained that the Fishery Commissioners were informed that on Tuesday, the 25th March, a trawler, named the Peter Johnson, registered at Aberdeen, deliberately ran into and destroyed lines to the value of £6; if so, whether any inquiry has been made into the truth of this statement; and, if not, will he explain on what grounds? and whether any action will be taken now in this case either by the Fishery Commissioners or by the Government.
§ * MR. G. W. BALFOURI am informed by the Inspectors of Fisheries that no trace can be found in the records of their Department of the receipt of the complaint referred to in the question, nor was any such complaint made to the Coastguard at Howth and Baldoyle. The Coastguard have been instructed to make local inquiry into the matter.