§ MR. DOUGHTY (Great Grimsby)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any reply to his inquiry from the Fishmongers' Company on the subject of the destruction of fish food during the summer season; and whether, seeing that the fish so destroyed is what is known as immature fish and such as the Fishmongers' Company and the trade have constantly urged Parliament by legislation to make it an illegal act to offer for sale, he will introduce legislation on the subject at an early date.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIn reply to my inquiries the Fishmongers' Company informed me that the fish destroyed last year at Billingsgate was only about one half per centum of the whole amount received at the market, and that, as stated in my hon. friend's Question, the greater proportion of the fish so destroyed was immature fish. As my hon. friend is aware, a Bill prohibiting the sale of immature fish was introduced by the President of the Board of Trade in 1900, but it was decided by the Committee to whom the Bill was referred that it would not be expedient to pass the Bill without further inquiry and investigation. Having regard to the international investigations which are being conducted, and to the proposed transfer of the fishery branch to the Board of Agriculture, I am not in a position to promise any legislation on the subject.