§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the large quantity of fresh caught fish annually destroyed owing to lack of facilities to secure prompt transit and ready sale, more especially at the week end, will he consider the expediency of calling for the opinion of experts as to the practicability of establishing cold storage chambers for fish at our leading fishing ports and on steamers employed in the fishing trade; and will the question of devising any other than the present means for the preservation of fresh caught fish be also considered.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am in communication with the Fishmongers Company on the subject of the hon. Member's Question. That body takes great interest in the subject referred to, and exercises important functions in relation thereto. The provision of cold storage chambers is, of course, a matter for private enterprise; but I understand that a large proportion of the fish which is destroyed in hot weather is of little value, and is of such a nature that it could not be advantageously dealt with in the way suggested.