§ MR. PIRIEI beg, there being no Minister directly in charge of the fishing interest in this House, to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that about 50 tons of good and wholesome fish were destroyed at Billingsgate during the first three days of last week, and that on one day recently 30 tons were similarly lost for human food at a Scottish port; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take any steps in the matter; and can he also state the total quantities of fish so destroyed during 1902 in England and Scotland, respectively, specifying out of the total the amount condemned as unfit for food.
§ MR. BONAR LAWI am informed that owing to the sudden heat a large amount of fish had to be destroyed at Billingsgate on the 27th June, and that owing to the impossibility of disposing of it in any other way about 40 tons had to be sold for manure at Aberdeen on the same day. The Board of Trade have no power to prevent such destruction, and I have no information as to the total amount of fish destroyed in England and Scotland.
§ MR. PIRIEMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman cannot provide greater facilities for distribution to the markets in order to prevent similar waste.
§ MR. BONAR LAWThe waste at Billingsgate was due to the fish not being wholesome; that at Aberdeen to fish arriving on Saturday night in such large quantities that it could not be sold.