§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork County, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that steam trawling within the limits in the inner harbours of Bantry Bay is destructive of the spawn and causing loss to the line and net fishermen; and whether he will grant a sworn inquiry in connection with this matter.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture are not aware that steam trawling in the inner waters of Bantry Bay is destructive to the spawn of fish. A bye-law prohibiting trawling in the whole of Bantry Bay by steam vessels of more than 20 tons net register has been in existence since the year 1897, and has been successfully enforced. Another bye law limits all trawling in the bay to the hours between 10 o'clock in the morning and sunset, so that nets and lines set at night shall not be interfered with. In the inner harbours of Bantry and Glengarriff, and in a portion of Berehaven, all trawling is prohibited at all times. Since the year 1897, when the bye-laws affecting trawling in Bantry Bay were last revised, no application for an inquiry regarding this method of fishing in the Bantry district has been received.