§ Mr. GILHOOLYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has received a memorial setting forth grievances of the trammel and net line fishermen of Whiddy Island in connection with steam trawling in Bantry; whether they have also sent small fry consisting of immature sole, cod, and ling; and, as the means of subsistence of hundreds of fishermen along the seaboard of Bantry is affected by steam trawling, he will cause an inquiry to be held relative to that mode of fishing?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Department have received a memorial as indicated in the question, and have also received several parcels of small fish of different kinds. Nearly two-thirds of this fish are of species caught almost solely by trawling. Of the remainder some are caught by other classes of nets or on lines. The samples contained one common sole, but no cod or ling. The question of trawling in Bantry Bay was carefully considered at Inquiries held in the year 1910, and the 410 Department see no reason for further inquiry at present.
§ Mr. GILHOOLYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was only one small trawler in the bay then and now there are three destroying the fish, and would the right hon. Gentleman undertake to send down an inspector to see the amount of spawn and small fry which are taken out of those trawlers?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI do not think, after the inquiry held eighteen months ago, that anything can be added.
§ Mr. GILHOOLYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the gentleman who held that inquiry was a great advocate of steam trawlers?