MR. POWERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if lie can state how many gunboats have been placed by the Admiralty at the disposal of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries each year for the last five years, with the view of preventing steam trawling in the prescribed waters oft' the Irish coasts.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe number of occasions on which gunboats have been employed for the purpose stated during the past five years was—in 1896, twice; in 1897, twice; in 1898, once; and in 1899, three times. Last year no gunboat was employed. I would refer the lion. Member to my reply on the 21st February† to the question of the hon. Member for Galway as to the special steps now being taken by the Department of Agriculture with a view to the suppression of illegal trawling within the prescribed limits off the Irish coast.