§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the principal market for Irish-cured mackerel is in the United States; will he use his best endeavours, in connection with the important negotiations now being carried on between England, Newfoundland, Canada, and the United States, as regards the fisheries question, to represent to the United States that the tariff of 8s. per barrel now collected on Irish mackerel is seriously detrimental to the Irish fishing industry; and, in the event of Canadian fish being allowed to enter free of duty to the United States, will he endeavour to secure a similar privilege to Irish exporters.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that 70,000 barrels of Irish-cured mackerel were exported to the United States in 1906, and that £28,000 was
§See (4) Debates, clxxiv.,788.767 collected by import duty; and whether, in view of the efforts now being made to secure a brand for Irish-cured fish, he will represent to the United States Government the necessity of lowering their tariff against this important Irish industry.
§ Sir EDWARD GREYI am informed that the facts as stated are approximately accurate. If a favourable opportunity occurs for trying to obtain a reduction of duties in the United States on the produce of the United Kingdom, the case of Irish-cured mackerel will not be overlooked. But the negotiations on the subject of Colonial fish which took place some time ago did not lead to any result.