§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) has been again called to the damage done to the mackerel fisheries of the south and south-west coasts of Ireland by fleets of boats engaged in fishing for herrings during such season as involves the capture of quantities of immature mackerel; and, in view of the inquiry of 1892, and the report of the fishery inspectors in 1893, which recommended, for the protection of the mackerel fishery, that a close season for herrings should be established from Poer Head to Mizen Head from 1st April to 16th May in each year, will the Department take steps to 796 preserve a great Irish industry from extinction.
MR. BRYCEThe Department held an inquiry into this matter at Kinsale in October last, and, as a result, a bye law intended to be of an experimental character was prepared, providing a close time for the taking of herrings in the district of Kinsale. The bye-law has not been proceeded with, because amongst other reasons, the question of extending the sphere of its operations eastward, towards Queenstown and Bally-cotton, has been raised; and the Department intend to hold inquiries at those places during the month of May next, whereupon a decision upon the whole case will be arrived at.