MR. POWERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many local fishermen are now employed in beam trawling and line and trammel fishing at Dunmore East, county Waterford; is he aware that more than twenty beam trawlers were employed at Dunmore before steam trawling was introduced, and that the supply of trawl fish has decreased, and the price of the same increased since the introduction of steam trawling.
MR. BRYCEThe Department of Agriculture are aware that there is one local boat using a beam trawl at Dunmore East, and a few small boats that occasionally fish with lines. About ten years ago, before the steam trawling began, a number of English and Irish herring boats frequented Dunmore East for the purpose of trawling. At an inquiry recently held at Dunmore East, evidence was given that the price for trawl fish in Waterford was higher since the advent of steam trawling. I have no information as to whether the supply of trawl fish has decreased.