§ MR. SLOANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state the result of the Department of Agriculture's investigation into the action of three water bailiffs and others who netted the Ballynahinch River, and removed a number of trout for the purpose of stocking their own lakes, on the 6th instant.
§ MR. WYNDHAMTwo complaints were made in this matter, namely, the netting of the river and the netting of the millrace. There is no legal objection, so far as the Department is aware, to the capture of fish by a riparian proprietor to the middle of the bed of the river, provided he uses a net with a mesh of the legal size. It is not within the province of the Department to offer an opinion on the general question of the rights possessed by persons, other than riparian proprietors, who may fish the river. But netting in the millrace is illegal, and the Department has informed the local police that if such netting should be practised the offender will be prosecuted.