§ MR. MORRIS (Galway)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the injury done by steam trawlers fishing in Galway Bay and other coast waters in Ireland, and that the prevalence of this illegal fishing is largely due to the smallness of the fine which the authorities are empowered by law to inflict on these poaching steamers when caught; whether he is aware that the highest fine possible to impose in Ireland is one-twentieth of that in Scotland; and whether he will see that measures are immediately taken to have Galway Bay more vigilantly protected, and to have the fine possible to impose in such cases raised.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have no doubt that the prevalence of illegal trawling in Irish waters is due, to some extent, to the smallness of the fine that can be imposed under the existing law. I am aware of the fact stated in the second paragraph. If an opportunity arises I hope to assimilate the Irish law to that in force in Scotland in this respect. The special cruiser "Helga," in the service of the Department of Agriculture, is now engaged in policing Irish waters, and the steamer in the service of the Congested Districts Board has also been made available for the same purpose. Every possible effort will be made to suppress illegal trawling in Galway Bay and elsewhere in Ireland.