MR. HAY MORGAN (Cornwall, Truro)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the fact that the French crabbers are continually coming within the three-mile limit of the coast of South-west Cornwall; and whether he will see that the gunboat, which is told off to protect the interest of the Cornish fishermen in this respect, will be ordered to visit this part of the Cornish coast.
I beg also to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the fact that trawlers frequently approach the Cornish coast at Coverack and trawl up the stockpots of the Cornish crabbers; and whether he will take steps to put a stop to such practices.
§ MR. KEARLEYMy attention has been called to the fact that the trawl fishermen in the Bay of Coverack have been accused of fouling the stockpots of the Cornish crabbers, but so far no complaint has reached us of French crabbers fishing within the territorial limit. However, the Board of Trade will make inquiries and also communicate with the Admiralty to arrange for a gunboat to visit this part of the coast. I would point out that the crabbers whose stock-pots have been interfered with have a remedy under Section 4 of the Sea Fisheries Act, 1883.