§ MR. JOYCEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state how many elected members of boards of conservators of fisheries there are in Ireland; the number of persons eligible to act on such boards because of their being owners of fisheries valued at £100 or over; the number of persons eligible to act on such boards because of their being justices of the peace whose holdings are bordering on rivers or lakes, and having paid one pound licence duty; and also the number, elected or otherwise, of fishermen who earn their living by fishing who act as members of such boards?
MR. BRYCEI am informed that there are 254 elected members of boards of conservators in Ireland, half of whom are elected by licence holders in tidal divisions of the districts, and half by those in fresh water divisions. The number of fisheries valued at £100 yearly or upwards is sixty-five. There is a variation from year to year in the number of persons eligible to act on such boards by reason of their being magistrates paying licence duty and being owners of land abutting on rivers or lakes. The Department are, however, willing, if desired, to ascertain the number of such persons who acted as ex-officio members of the different boards during 1905. In the largest district (Limerick) the number was about ten. The Department are not aware of the 1433 number of members of such boards who earn their livelihood by fishing.