§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many Government steam vessels are looking after the protection of the fisheries on the Irish sea coast; how many captures have been made of steam trawlers or other vessels fishing within the limits from the 31st of March, 1901, to the corresponding date in this year; what number of prosecutions there were, and how many convictions were obtained; and can he give the names of the vessel or vessels who made the captures.
§ MR. ATKINSONThere are two steam vessels employed by Government on this duty. Eight trawlers were captured during the year ended 31st March last, and eight prosecutions were undertaken resulting in seven convictions. In one case the capture was made by a coast guard officer; in the other seven they were made by the Cruiser "Helga."