§ MR. WILLIAM MOORE (Antrim, N)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state how many harbours of refuge there are on the seaboard between the mouth of the Foyle and Belfast Lough; how many stations for the life-saving rocket apparatus have been provided; and if it is the intention of the Board of Trade to make adequate provision for life-saving by the installation of such apparatus for the Derry, Belfast, Liver pool, and Glasgow shipping passing along this coast.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralIn addition to the natural harbour of Lough Larne, which affords perfect security from all winds and sea, there are many anchorages along this coast where vessels can obtain shelter according to the direction of the wide. No Life-Saving Rocket Stations are provided on the coast between Lough Foyle and Belfast Lough. The question of establishing such stations on the coast of counties Londonderry and Antrim has already been brought before the Board of Trade more than once, but the inquiries made show that no sufficient necessity exists for providing Rocket Stations on that part of the coast. There is a life-boat at Port Rush and another at Carrick Fergus, while thirteen of the Coastguard Stations between those two 52 places are supplied with belts and lines for life-saving purposes. From the records of the Department it appears that only two lives were lost on those coasts owing to casualties to vessels during the ten years ended August, 1901.