§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture (Ireland) whether ho is aware that the "Helga" has not visited the Ballinskelligs districts since the "Gold-finder" was successfully prosecuted for illegal trawling; that on 11th June three trawlers poached all night and morning, the weather being foggy; and whether, in view of the methods adopted by these trawlers, as, for example, fishing after sunset within the limits with their lights out, and that these offences do not appear to be reported by the coastguards, he will state what steps, if any, will be taken to put an end to these illegal practices and to safeguard the interests of the local fishermen.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThe coast of Kerry has been patrolled by the "Helga" and the "Granuaile" since the successful prosecution of the steam trawler "Gold-finder" in June last. No complaint of steam trawlers working inside the limits off the Kerry coast has been received by the Department since the date referred to in the Question. Most of the captures of vessels fishing illegally have been made at night, and on no occasion has a steam trawler been observed fishing without lights, although on one occasion a trawler 877 showed her ordinary side lights instead of her fishing lights. Having regard to the funds at the disposal of the Department the supervision exercised over the fishing grounds is all that can reasonably be expected, and it has proved very effective in reducing poaching.