§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many gun boats are employed in prohibiting steam trawlers from fishing in prescribed waters off the Irish coasts; how many gun boats have been provided by the Irish fishery authorities; and how many boats have been provided by the Admiralty; and, seeing that the Admiralty have for years placed boats at the disposal of the Scotch Fishery Board for the protection of the Scotch fisheries, in addition to the boats provided for that 37 purpose by that body, will he state whether the Irish fishery authorities have made application to the Admiralty for some assistance in protecting Irish fisheries; if not, do they intend doing so.
§ MR. WYNDHAMSince the establishment of the Department of Agriculture, the duty of protecting the Irish fisheries from the depredations of trawlers has been undertaken, with very satisfactory results, by the steam cruiser "Helga," the property of the Department, and by the "Granuaile," which is lent to the Department for the purpose by the Congested Districts Board. There are no gun boats employed on this duty in Irish waters, nor have there been for some years. But in pursuance of a promise given last year (14th August) I am approaching the Admiralty on the subject.