§ MR. HARRIS (Tynemouth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received information concerning the attacks that have recently been made on the open sea and in the mouth of the River Tyne on fishing boats returning to Cullercoats by a steam tug and other boats belonging to a Mr. Ewen, and whether he is aware that the fishing coble "Harold" returning from fishing was run into and almost sunk, that her sails and fishing nets were seized, and the men on board were in peril of their lives; whether it has been brought to his knowledge that the fishermen of Culler-coats are now obliged to arm themselves for their own protection; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of these attacks.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)The Board of Trade were informed by the Admiralty on the 7th instant that, owing to the salmon fishery disputes off the mouth of the Tyne arising out of a claim to private fishing rights, two gunboats had been despatched to the locality. The Board have asked the Admiralty for further particulars.