§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether having regard to the fact that the Earl of Annesley began only last year to pay rates on his alleged rights to the fishing at Shimna River, Newcastle, he can say what steps the Department of Agriculture intends to take to investigate Lord Annesley's claim or to assert the public rights.
MR. BRYCEThe Department of Agriculture do not propose to take any steps to investigate Lord Annesley's claim to the fishery in question, as they have no power to do so. The matter is one which can only be decided by a court of law. The Department will, however, notify to the local Board of Conservators, who are primarily responsible for the enforcement of the fishery laws in the district, that if they consider that there is a prima facie case against Lord Annesley they should institute proceedings before the magistrates and have the matter tested.