§ *MR. O'DOHERTYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the annual licensing duty payable by the fishermen of Lough Foyle for the privilege of fishing for salmon in the open sea outside the lough; how many hours per week do those licences enable fishermen to fish for salmon; what is the annual licence payable by fishermen in inland rivers and loughs for the privilege of fishing for salmon; and to whom does the money thus payable by these fishermen go; do the conservators or those to whom this money is payable apply any of it for protecting the Foyle 1370 and Bann fisheries for the Irish Society of London, who receive an annual rent of £3,000 for them; and will the Government take steps to carry out the suggestion by witnesses from the districts examined before the Inland Fisheries Commission that the fishermen who have to fish in the open sea outside the lough should be granted licences at lesser sums than at present, and that the money at present payable by the conservators or those to whom the licence duty at present goes should not be spent in protecting the fisheries for the Irish Society, who receive annually such a rental out of the property.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe licence duty-payable on each drift net for taking salmon in the open sea outside Lough Foyle is £3. These nets may be used for 120 hours per week, during the annual open season. In inland rivers and loughs the licence duty on drift nets is £3, that on snap nets ranges from 15s. to 30s. The moneys paid for licences are received by boards of conservators. The funds of these boards are expended in paying bailiffs to enforce the fishery laws; but I have no information as to how far the protection thus afforded is carried out in the special interest of any fishery proprietor, or of the public who fish on their common law rights. The fixing of licences within statutory limits rests with boards of conservators, subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture. The Department is not at present prepared to apply for legislation enabling it to fix licences for this district in opposition to the views of the conservators.