§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Irish Board of Agriculture has been called to the complaints made regarding the injury done to the mackerel fishing industry of Ireland by captures of immature mackerel by Scotch fishing boats engaged in the herring fishery at an early season of the year; and whether, in view of the fact that the Scotch Fisheries Board prohibit fishing for herrings in the Scotch fishing grounds before the middle of June, steps will be taken to protect the Irish fishing grounds from this destructive practice.
§ MR. FLYNNTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that injury is caused to the autumn mackerel fishing and fish curing industry in Ireland by the extensive capture of immature mackerel in herring fishing nets or seines at an early period of the fishing season, and that the haak fishing is threatened with destruction owing to the growth of this practice; and whether steps will be taken by the fishery inspectors of the Irish Board of Agriculture to prohibit all herring fishing in Irish waters before the first or second week in June.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) It is the fact that small mackerel have been captured in large quantities by the herring boats that fish from Kinsale during the month of May. This could only be prevented by stopping the spring herring fishing off the south coast during that month, the only month in which it can be profitably carried on. The entire question was investigated at public inquiries held at Kinsale and other places in 1892, with the result that no by-law could be framed that would satisfactorily meet its different aspects. The scientific adviser to the Fisheries Branch of the Department of Agriculture is of opinion that the capture of small mackerel by herring nets 466 in serious quantity is sporadic rather than regular, that it is, in fact, an accident in a most important industry, and appears to have recurred through a great number of years, which commenced long before any failure of the mackerel fishery, spring or harvest, could be laid to its account. The Department are not aware that the Scotch Fishery Board prohibit herring fishing on the Scotch fishing grounds before the middle of June. At the inquiries above referred to, evidence was submitted as to the destruction of considerable numbers of small and unsaleable haak by the herring nets. This seems to be unavoidable, but it does not afford sufficient justification for prohibiting a profitable herring fishing in the month of May.