§ MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Fisheries Branch of the Agricultural Board have lately interfered with the police in the exercise of their duty, and have prevented them from prosecuting four poachers near Dromara, county Down, who were caught in the act of illegally fishing; and if so, will he say on what grounds was the prosecution in this case forbidden.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The case referred to was reported by the police to the Fisheries Department of the Department of Agriculture in the usual way, but a prosecution was not advised because the evidence was not considered strong enough. The police are on the alert in this district to prevent and detect breaches of the Fishery Laws.