§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has seen a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of riparian owners and anglers held at Kanturk on 25th March last, in which attention was called to the decline in the quantity of salmon in the upper reaches of the Blackwater, and suggesting that the weekly close time should be extended to cover from 6 o'clock a.m. on Friday to 6 o'clock a.m. on Monday, and the annual close season from 1st October to 1st March; and whether, in view of the decline of this industry, the Department of Agriculture will order their fishery inspectors to hold an inquiry at an early date.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The attention of the Department of Agriculture has not been directed to the resolution referred to. The only complaint relating to a shortage of fish in the river Black-water has come from an English gentleman who rented a fishing at Kanturk and found it unsatisfactory; and the Department do not think that this would justify the holding of a public inquiry. The changes of weekly and annual close times suggested cannot be dealt with without legislation.