SIR EDWARD BASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the Board of Agriculture, whether the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has considered the representations which hive been made to him on 1247 behalf of the longshore fishermen in regard to the Fisheries Bill; and whether the Bill will be so amended as to make it clear that its provisions will not affect the coastwise fisheries of the British Islands.
MR. AILWYN FELLOWBS (Huntingdonshire, Ramsey)In the opinion of my noble friend the fears entertained by the longshore fishermen that their interests will be prejudicially affected by the Sea Fisheries Bill are groundless, in that he has always undertaken that Orders passed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries under the Bill shall affect only steam trawlers, carriers, and such large sailing vessels as are able to go out as far as the nursery grounds on the eastern side of the North Sea, the locality of which is well known and can easily be defined. In view, however, of the apprehensions still expressed my noble friend at the recent annual conference of the sea fishery authorities stated that he was willing to accept an Amendment to the effect that no Order of the Board under the Bill should be applicable to any sailing vessel unless and until the Board is satisfied that such sailing vessel has been engaged in trawling on the eastern grounds as defined in a schedule to be added to the Bill.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that alrge meetings of fishermen at Aldeburgh and King's Lynn have resolved that the suggested Amendment would not remove the objections of fishermen to the Bill.
§ MR. AILWYN FELLOWESI am afraid I have not heard that.