HC Deb 02 April 1908 vol 187 cc690-1
MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal, W.)

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the proposed Bye-Law No. 2, dealing with whaling on the West Coast of Ireland, permits the towing of whales captured beyond the three-mile limit to any place south of Downpatrick Head; how it is proposed to guard against an infringement of the three-mile limit; whether he is aware that, in the opinion of persons interested in the herring fishery, any whaling off the Irish Coast, even under the restriction of a three-mile limit, would be destructive of the existing fisheries, upon which numbers of families depend; and whether in his proposed legislation on this subject the Department will seek powers to forbid whaling altogether off the West Coast of Ireland.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

The second of the bye-laws affecting whaling off portion of the Irish Coast which the Department propose to submit for the approval of the Lord-Lieutenant in Council does not prohibit the towing through territorial waters to a factory that may be situate to the westwards or southwards of Downpatrick. Head of a whale killed on the high seas. Should the proposed bye-laws be approved of, their provisions will be enforced by the cruisers at the disposal of the Department. The Department cannot take steps to banish from the country an industry which may be of advantage to certain poor districts, unless clearer evidence than is at present forthcoming can be produced as to its injurious effects on the fisheries. The Department will see that no injury is done to the local fisheries by the prosecution of the whaling industry.

MR. HUGH LAW

Is it a fact that the Scottish fisheries are very much dissatisfied with the Act passed last year, and will not the Government make the Bill promised much stronger than that Act?

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

I am aware of the dissatisfaction. I announced the other day that in the Bill I was going to introduce the Government would take power to grant licences in districts where the industry will do no harm.

MR. CATHCART WASON

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is an abuse of terms to call these operations an "industry," and that the operations in Scotland are entirely ruinous to the fishing industry?

MR. STANLEY WILSON

How many whales are caught off the coast of Ireland?

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

I do not know, Sir.