§ MR. MEAGHER (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware of the effect on the fishermen in the neighbourhood of Innistiogue, in the county Kilkenny, of the action of Colonel Tighe, of Woodstock, who is owner of that part of the river; if he is aware that two pillars twenty-five feet high are built convenient to the river, on 876 which men are placed day and night watching the fish pass up a shallow part of the river into a deep pool, and by a given signal to men higher up, who come down with a boat and drag-net, clear off the whole river from bank to bank, thereby depriving the fishermen higher up of any means of living; and will he see that the customary King's share is established intact, so that the fishermen higher up the river may have a means of living.
§ The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE for IRELAND (Mr. T. W. Russell, Tyrone, S.)The only illegalities suggested in the Question is the stretching of the net entirely across the river. The Department understand that the net is not stretched entirely across the river, but they are making further inquiries in the matter. The provision of a King's gap does not arise in connection with the mode of fishing described in the Question.