§ MR. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Earl Annesley, through himself or his servants, is allowed to fish in any part of the River Shimna, Newcastle, from which others, 719 who arc fishermen by trade, are prohibited from fishing; and, if so, on what grounds.
MR. BRYCEI understand that if the Earl of Annesley is a riparian proprietor along the fresh waters of the River Shimna he would have rights of fishing in such fresh waters not enjoyed by the public. Under the Statute Law, netting for salmon in tidal waters is illegal within certain distances of the defined mouths of rivers, except by owners of several fisheries therein. The mouth of the River Shimna has been defined. The Department of Agriculture understand that Lord Annesley claims a several fishery in the vicinity of the mouth of the river, but it is not for the Department to decide whether this claim is justified or not.
§ MR. MACVEAGHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the Act of 1842 Lord Annesley cannot be deemed to own the fishery until he has paid rates for ten years, whereas he only began to pay thorn two years ago when Newcastle became an urban district.