§ 40. Mr. DUFFYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the fishermen on the Arran Islands, off the coast of Galway, who live almost entirely upon the proceeds of their fishing, are constantly interfered with and their prospects ruined through the illegal poaching of steam trawlers that cannot be kept outside the line limit laid down by the Board of Agriculture; and will he cause inquiries to be made as to the wrong done to these fishermen, and direct that the Board's steamer "Helga" should police the waters so as to prevent this illegal trawling?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Department's steam cruiser "Helga" will patrol the neighbourhood of Galway Bay as often as possible having regard to the necessity for marine supervision off other parts of the Irish coast. As a result of a visit of the vessel in question to Galway Bay in August last, the Department were able to institute proceedings for illegal fishing against a skipper of a steam trawler, in which case a fine of £100 was imposed and a sum of £25 was awarded as costs. The net of the vessel was also seized and confiscated.