§ 25. Mr. GILHOOLYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that since the latest inquiry was held in connection with steam trawling in Bantry Bay two additional steam trawl boats are constantly fishing there; whether the local trammel and line fishermen allege that this system of steam trawling is destructive of the spawn and militates against their interests; whether he is aware that boxes of small fry, captured by the steam trawl boats, are sold at the Bantry fish market; and whether he will cause inquiry to be held in connection with steam trawling in the said bay?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Department are not aware that two additional steam trawl boats have come to fish in Bantry Bay since the date of the last inquiry. The Department have received statements from fishermen, who are not trawlers, that the fishing in the bay is injuriously affected by that mode of fishing, and that the refuse fish are sold in the local market. During the last fourteen years four public inquiries have been held into the matter and by-laws made restricting trawling. In these circumstances the Department see no necessity for holding another inquiry.
§ Mr. GILHOOLYWill the right hon. Gentleman further inquire whether there are not three trawlers in Bantry Bay—I know there are?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI did make inquiry when in Dublin last week, and the information I had was that only one local trawler was in Bantry Bay.