HC Deb 06 July 1900 vol 85 cc783-4
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries have ascertained and have stated, at page 105 of their Report for 1897, that the diminution in the number of sea fish, such as cod and haddock, on the coasts of the United States is accompanied by a depletion of anadromous fishes, such as the salmon, which leave the sea at certain seasons for the rivers: and that it appears that any measures tending to restore the anadromous fishes to their former abundance will also improve the coast fisheries; and will he consider whether any steps can be taken to improve the sea fisheries of the English, Scotch, and Irish coasts by measures tending to restore the anadroms which frequent the rivers of Ireland.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

No, Sir, I am not. The passage which my hon. friend has quoted with some considerable approach to accuracy is an expression of opinion by Mr. Charles H. Stevenson, contained in an appendix to the Report for 1898 of the Commissioner for Fish and Fisheries. The question whether any measures can be taken to add to the number of anadroms in the rivers of Ireland is being at present considered by a Viceregal Commission. It is impossible for me to say whether any steps can be taken to improve the sea fisheries of the English, Scotch and Irish coasts by such measures until I know what such measures are.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Will the right hon. Gentleman wait for the Report of that Commission before proceeding with the Undersized Fish Bill?

MR. RITCHIE

No, Sir; that Bill does not deal with anadroms.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say the direct connection between the scarcity of one and. the scarcity of the other?

MR. RITCHIE

did not reply.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, for the information of Irish Members interested in fisheries, what an anadromous fish is?

MR. RITCHIE

It is a fish which lives sometimes in the sea and sometimes in the river.