§ Mr. DAWESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture where the police or patrol boats employed by the Northumberland Fishery Committee are stationed; whether they have, on a single occasion within the last six months, been at sea for the purpose of 1792 detecting illegal trawling; and whether he will consider some more efficient manner of protecting the line fishermen?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Committee hire vessels and employ them as occasion arises. They do not possess any vessels of their own stationed at definite points. In 1910 vessels were hired on twenty-three different occasions for the purpose of detecting illegal trawling. We are in communication with the Committee on the subject, and I hope that it may be possible for us before very long to assist the Committee to make more efficient arrangements for the enforcement of the By-laws?